Effect of two microbial phytase preparations on phosphorus utilisation in broilers fed maize-soybean meal based diets

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine the effect of two microbial phytases, Aspergillus niger (FINASEâ FP-500, 291 PU (phytase units)/g) and Trichoderma reesei phytase (FINASEâ P, 5880 PU/g) on phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) utilisation and ileal P and Ca digestibility in broiler chickens fed diets based on maize and soybean meal. A total of 96 Ross broiler chickens housed four birds to a cage were used. Four dietary treatments consisted of a positive control supplemented with dicalcium phosphate (17 g/kg), a negative control without inorganic P, basal diet without inorganic P supplemented with Aspergillus niger phytase (2.6 g/kg) and basal diet without inorganic P supplemented with Trichoderma reesei phytase (0.13 g/kg). Both phytases provided 750 PU/kg feed. P retention per unit intake was lowest and P excretion highest in birds fed the positive control diet with inorganic P (P