Effect of Dietary Mineral Content and Phytase Dose on Nutrient Utilization, Performance, Egg Traits and Bone Mineralization in Laying Hens from 22 to 31 Weeks of Age
Mehran Javadi,
Juan José Pascual,
María Cambra-López,
Judit Macías-Vidal,
Andrés Donadeu,
Javier Dupuy,
Laura Carpintero,
Pablo Ferrer,
Alba Cerisuelo
Affiliations
Mehran Javadi
Institute for Animal Science and Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Juan José Pascual
Institute for Animal Science and Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
María Cambra-López
Institute for Animal Science and Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Judit Macías-Vidal
Departamento de I+D+i, Global Feed S.L.U., Grupo Tervalis, Av. Francisco Montenegro s/n, 21001 Huelva, Spain
Andrés Donadeu
Departamento de I+D+i, Global Feed S.L.U., Grupo Tervalis, Av. Francisco Montenegro s/n, 21001 Huelva, Spain
Javier Dupuy
Departamento de I+D+i, Global Feed S.L.U., Grupo Tervalis, Av. Francisco Montenegro s/n, 21001 Huelva, Spain
Laura Carpintero
Departamento de I+D+i, Global Feed S.L.U., Grupo Tervalis, Av. Francisco Montenegro s/n, 21001 Huelva, Spain
Pablo Ferrer
Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Animal, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain
Alba Cerisuelo
Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Animal, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain
A total of 192 laying hens were used to evaluate the effect of dietary mineral content and phytase dose on nutrient utilization, egg production and quality and bone mineralization of young laying hens. Four dietary treatments were studied: PC, positive control with no added phytase, 4.07% Ca and 0.61% P; NC, negative control with no added phytase, 2.97% Ca and 0.37% P; and P500 and P1000, where NC diet was supplemented with phytase at 500 and 1000 FTU/kg, respectively. Hens’ performance and egg traits were controlled from 22 to 31 weeks of age. Coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients were determined at 25 and 31 weeks of age. Apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and blood content of Ca and P, as well as bone traits, were determined at 31 weeks of age. Ca and P retention was higher in birds on PC diet at 25 weeks, but not at 31 weeks of age compared to those on NC diet (p p p p p p p p p p < 0.05), and birds fed with P1000 presented intermediate values. It can be concluded that it would be advisable to increase the dose of phytase in the feed of laying hens to obtain long-term benefits.
