Phytase Studies-Broilers

Australian research compared two commercial phytase sources on the performance of broiler chicks fed corn-soybean meal based diets. The dietary treatments were a control phosphorus (P) diet; a low-phosphorus diet; and low-phosphorus P supplemented with either 500 U or 1,000 U of the commercial phytases. The control starter and finisher diets contained 0.4% and 0.32% available phosphorus and 0.28% and 0.20% for the low-phosphorus diets, respectively. Results indicated that there was no significant difference in body weight between the control and phytase supplemented treatments; the control diet supported significantly better weight gain compared to the low-phosphorus diets. Feed utilization was not significantly affected by phytase supplementation. The researchers concluded that performance of broilers fed low-phosphorus diets could be significantly improved by phytase supplementation. Both sources of phytase gave similar results and could replace about one-half of the dicalcium phosphorus in the diet without affecting broiler performance.

Mulyantini, N.G. and co-workers. 2004. The efficacy of phytase in corn soybean meal based broiler diets. Asia Pac. J. Clin. Nut. 13:S91.