Effects of phytase supplementation to diets with reduced available phosphorus on performance, mineral fecal content, and bone ash of broilers (Spanish text)

Phosphorus (P) is an essential mineral for growth and development of broiler chickens. The availability of P and other essential minerals in broiler diets is limited by phytic acid, resulting in an excess of mineral excretion. The addition of phytase enzyme increases the availability of P and other minerals in corn-soybean meal based diets. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of graded levels of phytase supplementation to diets with decreased available phosphorus (AP) contents relative to NRC requirements, on performance, carcass traits, tibia ash, and mineral fecal content of broilers.; The results suggest that diets formulated to contain 0.15% AP less than NRC recommendations and with addition of 300 FTU/kg significantly reduce mineral excretion without compromising bone integrity. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...