Reducing Phosphorus Excretion in Broilers

Research at Auburn University showed that phytase replaced 2/3 of the available phosphorus in the diet of breeder hens. They found that phytase supplementation resulted in seven percent higher egg production during the 25 to 60 weeks of age experiment; no change in egg weight or shell quality; increased fertility by one percent and hatchability by two percent; bone strength and mineral content tended to be higher; and mortality was ten percent lower in the birds receiving phytase. They found no negative effects of phytase. They reported the cost of the diets with phytase and the diets with standard amounts of phosphorus were essentially the same in that the cost of the phytase is approximately the same as the phosphorus it replaces.

Berry, W.D. jr., and co-workers. 2001. Effect of supplemental dietary microbial phytase on egg production, fertility and hatchability of broiler breeder hens. Report of research funded by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, Tucker, GA. (www. poultryegg.org).