Effect of Supplementation of Two Different Sources of Phytase on Egg Production Parameters in Laying Hens and Nutrient Digestiblity

Hens were fed corn-soybean meal diets containing 0.35, 0.25, 0.15, or 0.10% nonphytate phosphorus (NPP) (40 to 60 wk). Phytases A and B were added at 0.25, 0.15, and 0.10% at 250 to 300 units of phytase (FTU)/kg feed in a 3 x 3 factorial; 0.35% was a control diet. Treatments were replicated with eight cages per treatment (five hens per cage) in a randomized complete block design. Phytase supplementation had a significant effect on several production parameters: feed intake, feed conversion, and egg mass. Results showed nonsignificant effects (P < 0.06) on feed intake when hens were supplemented with phytase A or B and consumed more feed compared to the basal diet at 0.10% NPP. The feed conversion of birds fed 0.10% NPP without phytase was the least efficient compared to the other nine treatments (P < 0.05). Egg mass was significantly greater for hens supplemented with phytases A and B than for hens fed the basal diet at low (0.10%) NPP (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in egg production, egg weight, specific gravity, Haugh units, wet shell, or dry yolk percentages. Dry shell percentage was higher among basal diets at 0.15 and 0.25% NPP in contrast to phytase, whereas albumen and dry yolk percentages were significantly higher for diets with phytase than for the basal diet at 0.10% NPP. Bone ash percentage was uncharacteristically high in hens fed 0.10% NPP without phytase; however, mortality was 22% in this group. Phytase supplementation improved Ca and P digestibilities to varying degrees. Supplementation of phytase in normal, corn-soybean meal diets improved feed intake, feed conversion, and egg mass and elicited a response in shell quality and egg components at the low (0.10%) NPP.