Calcium and phosphorus digestibility in broilers as affected by varying phytate concentrations from corn.

Area of Science:

• Animal Nutrition
• Poultry Science
• Nutrient Digestibility

Background:

• Dietary phytate phosphorus (PP) is a major anti-nutritional factor in plant-based broiler diets, reducing mineral bioavailability.
• Understanding the interaction between PP concentration and exogenous phytase is crucial for optimizing broiler nutrition and reducing phosphorus excretion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of increasing dietary phytate phosphorus (PP) concentrations, with and without phytase, on the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in broilers.
• To determine the effects of dietary PP and phytase on digestible (Dig) Ca and P in broilers.

Main Methods:

• A 2x4 factorial experiment was conducted using 2 phytase levels (0 and 1,000 U/kg) and 4 PP concentrations (0.16% to 0.34%).
• Broilers were fed experimental diets from 20 to 22 days of age, with distal ileal digesta collected for nutrient analysis.
• Standardized ileal digestibility (SID) and digestible (Dig) Ca and P were calculated, including endogenous losses determination.

Main Results:

• Increasing dietary PP concentration significantly decreased SID Ca and P, irrespective of phytase inclusion.
• Phytase supplementation improved SID Ca and P across all PP levels.
• Interactions between PP and phytase were observed for SID and Dig P, with phytase efficacy decreasing at higher PP concentrations.

Conclusions:

• Phytase effectively enhances Ca and P digestibility in broilers, but its efficacy is influenced by dietary PP levels.
• Higher dietary PP concentrations negatively affect Ca and P absorption, necessitating strategic dietary adjustments.
• Optimizing dietary PP and phytase levels is essential for improving mineral utilization and sustainability in broiler production.