Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2017, 65(2), 577-581 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun201765020577

Effect of Low- And High Phytase Barley on Phosphorus Retention and Bone Mineral Composition in Broilers

Jiří Zelenka¹, Eva Mrkvicová¹, Ondřej Šťastník¹, Monika Jarošová², Tomáš Vlčko², Ludmila Ohnoutková²

¹ Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Production, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic

² Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic

The effects of low-phosphorus diets with two levels of phytase were examined in broiler chickens using eight replicates per treatment. The diets contained 40 % of spring barley with either 201 or 305 phytase activity units per kg. Chromic oxide was included in the diets as an indigestible marker. Excreta were collected during four consecutive three-day balance periods from the 12^th to the 23^rd day of age. No difference was observed for body weight gain between the dietary treatment groups but feed conversion ratio was better (P < 0.05) when higher phytase barley was used. In spite of the higher dietary level of phosphorus, the coefficient of apparent P retention was higher (P < 0.01) in higher than in lower phytase group. The retention of phosphorus increased (P < 0.01) with time of feeding in both low-phosphorus dietary groups. Differences between treatments in concentration of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium in defatted tibia were not significant (P > 0.05).

Keywords: plant phytase, low-phosphorus diet, P-retention, chicken

Grants and funding:

This work was supported by projects OP VaVPI CZ.1.05/3.1.00/14.0327 - New biotechnological products of IEB ASCR and MENDELU TP IGA 4/2017.

Prepublished online: April 30, 2017; Published: May 1, 2017  Show citation