Effects of microbial phytase supplementation on mineral utilization and serum enzyme activities in broiler chicks fed different levels of phosphorus

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of microbial phytase (Natuphos 500) supplementation in chicks (0 to 6 wk of age) fed different levels of nonphytate phosphorus (nPP) on performance, mineral retention, bone and plasma minerals and serum enzyme activities. Data were analyzed as a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with two levels of nPP for age periods of 1-d-old to 3 wk (0.35 and 0.22%) and 3 to 6 wk (0.27 and 0.14%) and two levels of phytase (0 and 500 U/kg) in each period. A positive control, adequate in nPP and Ca without phytase, was used. The low-nPP diets caused a negative effect on the performance (P < 0.05) compared to the normal-nPP diet. Phytase had a favorable effect on weight gain at 3 wk (P < 0.004) and 6 wk (P < 0.0475) of age and on feed consumption only at 3 wk (P < 0.0106). Feed efficiency was not affected at any stage by addition of phytase. Performances of chicks fed with 0.35 and 0.27% nPP and phytase were comparable to those obtained with the normal-nPP diets. Decreasing nPP content in the diet increased (P < 0.0001) P retention at 3 and 6 wk of age, increased Mg retention at 6 wk, and decreased (P < 0.0001) Ca and Zn retentions at 3 and 6 wk, respectively. Phytase supplementation increased (P < 0.0001) Ca, P, Mg, and Zn retention at 3 and 6 wk of age. Likewise, the decrease in nPP content in the diet caused a significant reduction of tibia ash (P < 0.0023) and Mg content (P < 0.0001) in tibia ash and reduced liver (P < 0.0240), spleen (P < 0.0176), and tibia (P < 0.0001) weights. Similarly, Ca (P < 0.0369) and Zn (P < 0.0181) contents in tibia ash were increased in response to decreasing nPP levels in the diet. Phytase supplementation increased tibia weight (P < 0.0019), tibia ash (P < 0.0021), and Mg (P < 0.0339) and Zn (P < 0.0353) concentrations and reduced (P < 0.0161) the relative liver weight. By decreasing nPP levels in the diet, plasma Ca (P < 0.0001), Mg (P < 0.0001) and Zn (P < 0.0048) concentrations, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity (P < 0.0299) increased, and plasma P content (P < 0.0001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity (P < 0.0001), and total protein (TP) content (P < 0.0050) were reduced. Phytase supplementation increased plasma P level (P < 0.0001) and serum AST activity (P < 0.0049), reduced plasma Ca (P < 0.0001) and Mg (P < 0.0050) contents, and reduced serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P < 0.0048), ALP (P < 0.0001) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (P < 0.0192) activities. Plasma Zn was not affected by phytase supplementation. These results demonstrated that microbial phytase supplementation to low-P diets improved performance; P, Ca, Mg, and Zn use; and tibia weight and relative liver weight in broiler chickens. Likewise, serum AST, ALT, ALP, and LDH activities, as well as TP concentration, were also affected by phytase supplementation.