THE EFFECT OF MICROBIAL PHYTASE ON DIETARY METABOLISABLE ENERGY, PHYTATE PHOSPHORUS DIGESTIBILITY AND EGG PRODUCTION IN LAYING HENS

Vasil Pirgozliev;, M.R. Bedford;, Sonya Ivanova-Peneva;, Danail Kanev

Abstract: Microbial phytase is a prominent dietary enzyme used in poultry feed. However, most studies on phytase supplementation of feed have been conducted with broiler chickens compared to laying hens. The aim of the reported experiment was to determine the effects of microbial phytase supplementation on hen performance, egg production, dietary metabolisable energy and nutrient availability. Three diets were offered to ISA Brown laying hens for four weeks, between 35 and 39 weeks of age. The control diet was low in available P (3.1 in diet vs 5.0 recommended, g/kg diet) but adequate in protein and energy. The other two diets were based on the control diet but supplemented with phytase (125 and 250 FTU/kg (phytase units/ kg diet) respectively). Diets were given for four weeks prior to measurements of dietary energy, dry matter, N and phytate phosphorus digestibility. Supplementation of diets with phytase had no effect on egg numbers and weights, and egg feed conversion ratio. An improved dietary metabolisable energy, dry matter and phytate P digestibility were the positive effects of dietary phytase addition. Dietary phytase also tended (P=0.055) to improve dietary N digestibility coefficient. The results from this study demonstrated that dietary phytase improved the nutritional value of maize-soybean-based diets when fed to ISA Brown laying hens. The improved dietary phytate phosphorus digestibility suggests that the use of QuantumTM phytase is an efficient way to reduce pollution from animal production.

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Date published: 2023-01-24