Effect of Corn Germ Meal Based Low Phosphorus Diets on Nutrient Metabolizability and Carcass Characteristics of Colored Broilers

A trial was conducted to study the effect of corn germ meal (CGM) based low phosphorus diets supplemented with phytase enzyme on the performance of colored broilers (Raja-II). A total of 144 colored broiler chicks were allotted to eight treatment groups of 18 birds in each (three replicates of six birds each). Four experimental diets were prepared by incorporating CGM at 0, 15, 20 and 25 percent level (phytase-ve diets) and other four diets were prepared by supplementing phytase enzyeme to these diets where dicalcium phosphate was replaced with lime stone powder. Metabolic trial was conducted for three days and the birds were slaughtered at 42d of age to study carcass characteristics. There was significant (P<0.05) decrease in metabolizability of DM and OM with increased level of CGM inclusion irrespective of phytase inclusion. Metabolizability of CP and CF were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by either CGM level or phytase supplementation. Phytase supplementation to low phosphorus diets where DCP was replaced with limestone powder significantly (P<0.05) improved the metabolizability of EE in 0 and 25% CGM inclusion groups and metabolizability of NFE in 20 and 25% CGM inclusion groups. Carcass characteristics were not differed significantly (P>0.05) among the treatment groups. CGM inclusion in the diets reduced the metabolizability of DM, OM. Phytase enzyme supplementation to CGM based low phosphorus diets improved the metabolizability of EE and NFE. Neither CGM inclusion nor Phytase supplementation affected the metabolizability of CP, CF and carcass characteristics.