Efficacy of Fungal Phytase on Growth Performance and Bone Mineralization in Broiler Chicken

A feeding trial was conducted to assess efficacy of phytase of fungal (Aspergillus foetidis)-origin in broiler chicken fed on a maize-soybean based diet in terms of growth performance, blood minerals, bone morphometry and mineralization. Partially purified phytase of Aspergillus foetidis (MTCC 11682) was used for feeding. A feeding trial of five weeks duration was conducted involving 126 chicks, divided into three dietary treatments with six replicates having seven chicks in each following a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments consisted of one normal phosphorus (NP) group without any phytase enzyme (0.45% available P during starter and 0.40% during finisher phase), two low phosphorus groups LP500 and LP1000 (0.32% available P during starter and 0.28% during finisher phase) with supplemented laboratory phytase at 500 and 1000 FTU/kg, respectively. Growth performance of broilers was lower (P<0.01) in LP500 group of birds. Growth performance and mineral retention was similar (P>0.05) in broiler chickens fed on NP and LP1000 diets. The bone ash and mineral content of tibia was similar (P>0.05) among the groups. It may be concluded that immobilized partial purified fungal phytase at 1000FTU/kg was effective in replacing 0.12% non-phytate phosphorus in the diet for growth performance and mineral utilization in broiler chicken.