Effect of phytase on nutrient utilization of cockerels

Xiao, X., Yang, Z., Jiang, S.S., Yang, H.M. and Wang, Z.Y. 2020. Effect of phytase on nutrient utilization of cockerels. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, 20: 543–551.

A metabolism experiment was conducted to assess the effects of four dietary phytase concentrations namely, 150, 300, 450 and 600 U/kg on the utilization of conventional nutrients and select trace elements in birds. Thirty healthy 40-week old male New Yangzhou cockerels with similar BW were randomized into five dietary groups with six replicates per treatment and one bird per replicate. The apparent utilization of DM, CP, crude ash, calcium, phosphorus, copper, manganese and zinc were measured. The results indicated significant (P<0.05) effects of dietary phytase on the utilization of DM, CP, crude ash, Ca, P, Mn and Zn except for Cu indicating that dietary phytase addition improved nutrient utilization. Additionally, the apparent utilization of DM, crude ash, Ca, P, Mn and Zn showed significant (P<0.05) quadratic response to increasing dietary phytase, while that of CP showed a linear (P<0.05) response. The apparent utilization of crude ash and Ca was the highest with phytase supplementation at 150 U/kg. The utilization of P and Cu was highest with 300 U phytase/kg while that of DM, CP, Mn and Zn reached the highest level with 450 U phytase/kg. However, there was no significant (P>0.05) difference recorded between phytase supplementation levels 300 and 450 U/kg. Overall, it is concluded that the optimal additional level of dietary phytase at 300 U/kg gave the best performance in New Yangzhou cockerels.