Influence of phytate level on broiler performance and the efficacy of 2 microbial phytases from 0 to 21 days of age

Phytate is an antinutrient in animal feeds, reducing the availability and increasing the excretion of nutrients. Phytases are widely used to mitigate the negative influences of phytate. This trial was designed to compare the efficacy of 2 Escherichia coli-derived phytases on broiler performance and bone ash as influenced by dietary phytate level. A total of 1,024 Arbor Acres male broilers were used with 8 replicate pens of 16 birds/pen. Experimental diets were based on low available phosphorus (avP; 1.8 g/kg) with low (6.40 g/kg) or high (10.65 g/kg) phytate. The low-avP diets were then supplemented with mono-dicalcium phosphate to increase the avP level to 4.5 g/kg, 500 phytase units/kg of phytase A, or 500 phytase units/kg of phytase B to create 8 experimental diets. Feed intake, BW gain, FCR, and livability were influenced by a P source × phytase interaction. Feed intake, BW gain, and livability were reduced and FCR was higher in broilers fed low-avP diets, particularly in the presence of high phytate. Phytase A or phytase B improved feed intake, BW gain, and FCR, particularly in the high-phytate diet. However, broilers fed phytase A ate more and were heavier than broilers fed phytase B. Tibia ash was lowest in broilers fed the low-avP diet and highest in broilers fed the diet supplemented with mono-dicalcium phosphate. Phytase increased tibia ash, and broilers fed phytase A had an increase in tibia ash compared with broilers fed phytase B. In conclusion, high dietary phytate reduced broiler performance. Phytase A and phytase B improved bone ash and growth performance, especially in the high-phytate diets. However, phytase A was more efficacious than phytase B, regardless of the level of phytate.