Performance and nutrient utilization of laying hens fed low-phosphorus corn-soybean and wheat-soybean diets supplemented with microbial phytase.
Two experiments were conducted with laying hens (Lohmann Brown) in an individual cage system and with single feeding conditions. Experiment 1 (n = 24) was a performance trial (22 to 61 wk) to evaluate phytase effects on performance and nutrient utilization in corn-soybean meal (CSM1) and wheat-soybean meal (WSM1) basal diets (0.12% NPP; 3.1% Ca) supplemented (300 U/kg) with an experimental microbial phytase (CSM2 and WSM2) or 1.5 g/kg inorganic P (CSM3 and WSM3). Experiment 2 (n = 16) was also conducted as a performance trial (22 to 61 wk) only using CSM diets with dietary treatments similar to those in experiment 1. In addition, parallel N and P balance experiments in 2 age periods (26 and 33 wk, respectively) were conducted. In experiment 1, no significant (P < 0.05) differences in mortality, feed intake, egg production, egg weight, or body weight were observed. Tibia bone mineral composition was significantly affected by microbial phytase. Microbial phytase in the low-P CSM diet significantly (P < 0.05) improved the feed conversion ratio. In experiment 2, only feed conversion ratio was significantly improved by microbial phytase. The phytase supplementation had no significant effect on P excretion, P balance, P utilization, N balance, N utilization, or AMEn in the balance experiments.
Liebert
F
F
Institute for Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Georg-August-University, Kellnerweg, Goettingen, Germany. flieber@gwdg.de
Htoo
J K
JK
Sünder
A
A
D010832:6-Phytase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D010058:Oviposition; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D013025:Glycine max; D014908:Triticum; D003313:Zea mays
D010758:Phosphorus; D010832:6-Phytase