The short-term effects of phytase supplementation on bone quality and ileal digestibility of phosphorus and calcium in laying hens during peak production

Published: August 22, 2023

By: K. Pongmanee, I. Kühn and D. R. Korver / University of Alberta

Summary

The short-term study was conducted to test the effects of phytase supplementation in laying hen diets during peak production on bone characteristics as well as phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) digestibility.

Problem

A large portion of dietary phosphorus is not utilized by laying hens and is excreted in feces, which leads to phosphorus pollution in the environment. Adding inorganic phosphorus to poultry diets has also become much more expensive. Phytase supplementation helps to release more available nutrients, particularly phosphorus and calcium. Dietary inclusion of phytase also reduces phosphorus excretion.

Hypothesis: Inclusion of phytase in diet would increase bone quality and phosphorus and calcium digestibility of laying hens.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of Quantum Blue phytase in layer diets on bone quality and phosphorus and calcium digestibility during peak production from 25 to 37 weeks of age in laying hens.

Our Approach

Our Observations

What does this mean?

In the short-term, phytase supplementation did not increase bone quality in terms of bone strength and bone ash.
However, inclusion of phytase at recommendation level (300 FTU) in laying hens increased phosphorus and calcium digestibility. No evidence of a dose response.
It is noteworthy that phytase decreases excretion of minerals, which reduces environmental pollution.