Influence of synthetic sodium aluminosilicate on laying hens fed different phosphorus levels

Two 28-day experiments were conducted utilizing 360 and 180 Leghorn-type hens, 60 and 40 wk of age in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. In both experiments, a corn-soybean meal basal diet containing no supplemental P was formulated. Dicalcium phosphate was added to the basal diet to supply 0, .05, and .13% supplemental P in Experiment 1 and 0, .13, and .35% supplemental P in Experiment 2. In both experiments, diets were fed with 0 and .75% synthetic sodium aluminosilicate (SAS). The basal diet was calculated to contain .30% P. In Experiment 1, egg production was significantly increased by the addition of .13% supplemental P. When SAS was added to each diet, a decline in egg production and feed consumption was observed. Egg specific gravity increased and egg weight decreased in the presence of SAS. In Experiment 2, egg production was significantly depressed by SAS in the absence of supplemental P and returned to normal with supplemental P. Feed consumption was significantly depressed by adding SAS to diets containing 0 to .13% supplemental P but not to diets containing .35% supplemental P. Egg weight decreased and specific gravity increased when SAS was supplemented to the diet. Data from these two experiments indicate that adequate P intake is advised when using SAS because feed consumption, egg production, and egg weight were decreased in the presence of SAS.