Efficacy of fungal phytase on apparent ileal digestibility of nutrients in broiler chicken

This experiment was conducted to assess efficacy of phytase of fungal (Aspergillus foetidis)-origin on apparent ileal digestibility of nutrients in broiler chicken fed with a maize-soybean based diet. A feeding trial was conducted on 126 chicks, divided into three dietary treatments with six replicates having seven chicks in each following a completely randomized design. Semi purified phytase of Aspergillus foetidis (MTCC 11682) was used for feeding. The dietary treatments consisted of one normal phosphorus (NP) group without any phytase enzyme, two low phosphorus (LP) groups LP500 and LP1000 with supplemental laboratory phytase at 500 and 1000 FTU/kg, respectively. The apparent ileal digestibility coefficient (AIDC) of most amino acids were improved significantly (P<0.05) in phytase supplemented group except crude protein, methionine, glutamic acid, arginine, isoleucine. The AIDC of calcium, phosphorus and iron were improved significantly (P<0.05) due to phytase supplementation. The P excretion g/kg FI was higher (P<0.001) in NP fed followed by LP 1000 and least excretion was noticed in LP 500 fed group. It may be concluded that immobilized partial purified fungal phytase at 1000 FTU/kg in low phosphorus diet was effective in replacing 0.12% non-phytate phosphorus in the diet of broiler chicken for better ileal digestibility of amino acids and minerals with reduced P excretion.