Abstract
The effect of acidifier and phytase on thyroid weight as related to short-chain fatty acid concentration in the caeca of broiler chickens
Highlights
In rapeseed, from 60 to 80% of phosphorus occurs as phytates, which may negatively affect the availability of minerals and digestion of protein
Supplementation of diets with phytase or acidifier significantly increased thyroid weight by 16% (P
The increase in thyroid weight due to phytase supplementation was greater at the lower dietary Ca and P levels, and the greatest when the acidifier was added to the diet
Summary
From 60 to 80% of phosphorus occurs as phytates, which may negatively affect the availability of minerals and digestion of protein It was found previously (Smulikowska et al, 2006) that supplementation of diets containing untoasted rapeseed cake with phytase induced enlargement of thyroids in broiler chickens. The important role of gut microflora in glucosinolate metabolism was demonstrated by Nugon-Baudon et al (1990) and Campbell et al (1995). They found that dietary glucosinolates were excreted intact in germ-free rats, while in rats with normal microflora, the majority of these compounds disappeared from the digestive tract. The objective of this study was to determine whether supplementation of a diet containing rapeseed cake with phytase and acidifier would affect the activity of caecal microflora and influence the relative thyroid weight
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