title: Contribution of intestinal- and cereal-derived phytase activity on phytate degradation in young broilers.
abstract: There is little consensus as to the capability of poultry to utilize dietary phytate without supplemental phytase. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to examine the extent to which endogenous phytase of intestinal and cereal origin contributes to phytate degradation in birds aged 0 to 14 d posthatch. Ross 308 broilers (n = 720) were fed one of 4 experimental diets with differing dietary ingredient combinations and approximate total phytate levels of 10 g/kg, dietary phytase activity analyzed at 460 U/kg, dietary calcium (Ca) levels of 11 g/kg, and nonphytate-phosphorus (P) levels of 4 g/kg. Broiler performance, gizzard, duodenum, jejunum and ileum pH, Ca and P digestibility and solubility, amount of dietary phytate hydrolyzed in the gizzard, jejunum, and ileal digesta phytase activity were analyzed at d 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 posthatch. Intestinal endogenous phytase activity increased significantly (P < 0.001) between d 4 and 6, resulting in increased phytate hydrolysis in the gizzard (P = 0.003), jejunum (P < 0.001), and ileum (P < 0.001). Phytase activity and phytate hydrolysis continued to increase with age, with a greater phytase activity and associated increase in phytate hydrolysis and mineral utilization between d 10 and 12. Gizzard and jejunum Ca and P solubility and ileal Ca and P digestibility increased significantly (P < 0.001), and gastrointestinal pH decreased significantly (P < 0.001) between d 4 and 6. By d 14, phytase activity recovered in the ileum was approximately 45 U/kg. There were strong correlations between phytase activity measured in the ileum and phytate hydrolyzed in the gizzard (r = 0.905, P < 0.001), jejunum (r = 0.901, P = 0.023), and ileum (r = 0.938, P = 0.042). This study shows intestinal- and dietary-derived endogenous phytase activity is responsible for phytate-P hydrolysis in broilers.
authors.affiliation: School of Animal, Rural, and Environmental Science, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, Nottinghamshire NG25 0QF, United Kingdom nat.morgan@ntu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: AB Vista Feed Ingredients, Woodstock Court, Blenheim Road, Marlborough Business Park, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 4AN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Walk
authors.affiliation: AB Vista Feed Ingredients, Woodstock Court, Blenheim Road, Marlborough Business Park, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 4AN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bedford
authors.affiliation: School of Animal, Rural, and Environmental Science, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, Nottinghamshire NG25 0QF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Burton
mesh_terms: D010832:6-Phytase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D004063:Digestion; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010833:Phytic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D010833:Phytic Acid; D010832:6-Phytase
keywords: broiler; endogenous phytase; mineral digestibility; pH