Non-phytate Phosphorus Research Articles

The effects of coarse and wet feeding on performance parameters, gastrointestinal tract and tibia traits, and digesta phytase activity in egg-type pullets, either fed a low or moderate phosphorus diet

In a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design, the effects of dietary non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) levels, 0.17% (low) and 0.33% (moderate), diet moisture (dry and wet), and diet particle size (coarse and fine), were studied on egg production, characteristics of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and tibia, digesta pH, and phytase activity in layer pullets (16 to 28 wk of age). The low NPP diet increased average daily water intake (ADWI) to ADFI ratio (4.2%) from 16 to 17 wk, but decreased this ratio (2.8%) from 23 to 27 wk. It decreased ADFI (1.5%) and egg mass production (3.8%) from 19 to 22 wk. It decreased egg weight (0.29g) and ADWI (2.1%) from 23 to 27 wk. At 22 wk, the GIT relative empty organ weights were (g/kg BW) higher for proventriculus + gizzard (0.96), duodeneum (0.94), and jejunum + ileum (1.95) with the low vs. moderate NPP diet. The low NPP diet decreased digesta phytase activity in crop and proventriculus+gizzard at 28 wk. The wet diet increased ADFI, ADWI, and ADWI/ADFI ratio from 16 to 27 wk, egg mass production (3.0%) from 19 to 22 wk, and egg weight (0.45g) from 23 to 27 wk. The wet diet also increased digesta phytase activity in proventriculus+gizzard. The coarse diet decreased ADFI from 19 to 22 wk (1.7%) and 23 to 27 wk (1.2%). The coarse diet caused reduced egg mass production (2.6%) from 23 to 27 wk. Egg shell breaking strength was increased on the coarse diet (0.9 Newton). The coarse diet increased ADWI/ADFI ratio from 16 to 27 wk, and increased relative gizzard weight by 1.95 and 0.81g/kg BW at 22 and 28 wk, respectively. The coarse diet increased jejunal/ileal pH with 0.16 units at 28 wk. None of the tested parameters affected tibia characteristics. It was concluded that a low NPP diet did not clearly affect the studied parameters. The wet diet increased ADFI, ADWI, and egg production. The coarse diet increased ADWI, egg shell breaking strength, relative gizzard weight, and reduced ADFI and egg production.

Restriction of dietary non-phytate phosphorus on growth performance and expression of intestinal phosphate cotransporter genes in broilers

Effects of dietary non-phytate phosphorus (nPP) restriction on growth and duodenal type IIb sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter (NaPi-IIb) genes were observed. A total of 432 one-day old Cobb500 male broiler chickens in 36 cage pens were divided into 6 groups with each group containing 6 pens. Each group was treated with one of the diets containing 0.33, 0.37, 0.41, 0.45, 0.49, and 0.53% of nPP up to 14 D. During 15 to 31 D, birds were treated with one of the diets containing 0.23, 0.27, 0.31, 0.35, 0.39, and 0.43% of nPP. Level of Ca was kept the same across all treatments. Dietary nPP level influenced (P < 0.001) weight gain and feed intake in both growth phases, whereas effect on feed per gain ratio was seen only in the second phase. Toe ash, tibia ash, and tibia breaking strength responded to treatments (P < 0.01) at 14 D. Only tibia ash content was significantly improved (P < 0.001) at 31 D. Growth and bone parameters linearly improved with an increase in dietary nPP content (P < 0.05). Above dietary nPP 0.41% and 0.31% for first phase and second phase, respectively, no significant improvement was seen. Duodenal NaPi-IIb mRNA overexpressed with a decrease in dietary nPP in both phases (P < 0.05). Relative expression of NaPi-IIb in lowest nPP group were 2.2 folds higher in the first phase and 3.6 folds higher in the second phase compared to respective highest nPP groups of each phase. No significant change in NaPi-IIb expression was seen above 0.37% of dietary nPP for 14 D and 0.31% of dietary nPP for 31 D. Dietary requirements of nPP 0.41% for 0 to 14 D and 0.31% for 15 to 31 D were adequate for optimal growth and bone parameters. This study fills the gap in understanding of intestinal NaPi-IIb expression in response to dietary nPP restriction in broilers older than 21 D of age.

Effects of residual superdoses of phytase on growth performance, tibia mineralization, and relative organ weight in ducks fed phosphorus-deficient diets.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of residual superdoses of phytase on growth performance, tibia mineralization, and relative organ weight in ducks fed phosphorus-deficient diets. In Exp. 1, 4 kinds of commercial phytase were used to determine retention rate of phyatse with the phytase C being the highest via both high water-bath temperature (90%) and pelleting (50%), followed by phytase A, B, and D. In Exp. 2, a total of 560 male ducks were blocked based on body weight, and then allocated randomly to 7 treatments (5 replicates with 16 birds per replicate). Treatments included a maize-soybean meal-based diet with recommended calcium and 4.0g non-phytate phosphorus (nPP)/kg starter diet or 3.8g nPP/kg grower diet (positive control; PC), an nPP-deficient diet with 1.3g nPP/kg starter diet or 1.1g nPP/kg grower diet (negative control; NC), NC diets with increasing levels of residual phytase C (500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 units/kg feed) after pelleting. Birds fed NC diets had lower (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) throughout the experiment compared with those fed PC diet. Supplementing NC diet with increasing residual superdoses of phytase improved (P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI quadratically in the entire experiment, while reduced feed-to-gain ratio (P < 0.05) quadratically during day 0 to 14. On day 14 and 35, birds fed NC diet had lower (P < 0.05) tibia length, weight, ash, calcium, phosphorus, and manganese contents than those fed PC diet. Increasing residual superdoses of phytase in NC diet increased (P < 0.05) tibia weight and ash, calcium, phosphorus contents quadratically on day 14 and 35. NC treatment increased (P < 0.05) the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and cecum index compared with other treatments on day 14 and 35. Taken together, feeding increasing residual superdoses of phytase could counteract or exceed the negative effects of NC diet on growth performance, tibia mineralization, and relative organ weight in ducks.

Performance and bone quality of broiler chicken fed a diet with reduced nonphytate phosphorus with bacterial phytases

This study evaluated the effect of three phytases in reduced nonphytate phosphorus (NPP) diets. In total, 2100 male Cobb 500® chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design. Ten experime...

Effect of a high dose of exogenous phytase and supplementary myo-inositol on mineral solubility of broiler digesta and diets subjected to in vitro digestion assay.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of microbial phytase and myo-inositol supplementation in low non-phytate phosphorus (nPP) diets on pH and the solubility of minerals in an in vitro digestion procedure (IVDP) and to compare this with digesta from birds fed different diets (grower diets) compared to the in vitro test (starter diets). A total of 660 1-day-old broilers were randomly allotted into 11 dietary treatments and fed a corn-soybean-meal-based diet with recommended nPP (positive control; PC), an nPP-deficient diet (negative control; NC), NC diets supplemented with phytase (500; 1,000; 2,000; 3,000; 4,000; 5,000; and 6,000 FTU/kg), an NC diet plus 0.15% myo-inositol, and an NC diet with reduced Ca level (Ca: nPP ratio same as PC) from 1 to 23 D of age. The pH and Ca solubility of the NC diet was increased compared with the PC when subjected to IVDP (P < 0.05). P solubility in the gizzard and jejunal digesta was reduced in the NC compared with the PC diet and this was also reflected in the IVDP. Phytase addition to the NC diets linearly increased (P < 0.05) the pH value and Ca and P solubilities in both digesta and diets subjected to IVDP. Higher doses of microbial phytase increased (P < 0.05) Zn and Fe solubilities in both digesta and IVDP. Myo-inositol supplementation of the NC diet had no effect on mineral solubility, but decreased (P < 0.05) the pH of the IVDP. Lowering the Ca content of the NC diet decreased (P < 0.05) the pH of the in vitro digested diets and Ca solubility in both broiler digesta and IVDP and also increased (P < 0.05) P solubility in both the jejunal digesta and IVDP. Correlations were noted between the solubility of P in the in vitro assay and that in the gizzard and jejunal digesta, and also with bird performance, confirms the usefulness of in vitro assay.

Developing a novel oral vitamin D3 intake bioassay to re-evaluate the vitamin D3 requirement for modern broiler chickens.

The present study was conducted to develop a non-traditional vitamin D3 (D3) intake bioassay with the objective of increasing the precision of D3 delivery to the chickens. For this purpose, newly hatched chickens (5 birds per cage) were allocated in battery brooders and randomly distributed into 8 treatments and 6 replicates per treatment. A basal corn-soy diet devoid of D3 containing calculated calcium and non-phytate phosphorus concentrations of 0.90 and 0.45%, respectively, was fed throughout a 21-D period. The first 9 D of the study served to deplete the maternal stores of D3 followed by a 12-h fasting period. From day 10 to the end of the trial, the birds were gavaged with graded levels of D3 obtained from a highly purified pharmaceutical grade D3 standard (99.8%) purchased from Sigma-Aldrich and dissolved in corn oil. Daily gavage treatments were based on estimated intake of 0, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,600, and 3,200 IU D3/kg of feed consumed over the last 12 D of the study. Precise cholecalciferol intake per kg of diet was adjusted based on actual daily feed intake per pen of birds. Performance data were evaluated from day 10 to 21. Percent tibia bone ash (TBA), tibia breaking strength (TBS), total mineral content, and total bone mineral density were obtained at day 21. The D3 treatments improved (P < 0.05) weight gain and feed efficiency. There was no linear or quadratic effect for any of the productivity performance variables. Graded levels of D3 improved (P < 0.05) TBA and TBS. Both were linearly increased (P < 0.05) in response to graded levels of D3. A quadratic response was observed for TBS only. Under the conditions of the present experiment and the average of 3 regression models, the D3 requirement for starter broilers was estimated at 285 IU D3/kg of feed when bone mineralization responses (TBA and TBS) were used as criteria to estimate the requirement.

Dietary phosphorus deficiency impaired growth, intestinal digestion and absorption function of meat ducks.

ObjectiveAn experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary non-phytate phosphorus (nPP) deficiency on intestinal pH value, digestive enzyme activity, morphology, nutrient utilization, and gene expression of NaPi-IIb in meat ducks from 1 to 21 d of age.MethodsA total of 525 one-d-old Cherry Valley ducklings were fed diets (with 7 pens of 15 ducklings, or 105 total ducklings, on each diet) with five levels of nPP (0.22%, 0.34%, 0.40%, 0.46%, or 0.58%) for 21 d in a completely randomized design. Five experimental diets contained a constant calcium (Ca) content of approximately 0.9%. Body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), and feed to gain ratio (F:G) were measured at 14 and 21 d of age. Ducks were sampled for duodenum and jejunum digestion and absorption function on 14 and 21 d. Nutrient utilization was assessed using 25- to 27-d-old ducks.ResultsThe results showed ducks fed 0.22% nPP had lower (p<0.05) growth performance and nutrient utilization and higher (p<0.05) serum Ca content and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. When dietary nPP levels were increased, BW (d 14 and 21), BWG and FI (all intervals), and the serum phosphorus (P) content linearly and quadratically increased (p<0.05); and the jejunal pH value (d 14), duodenal muscle layer thickness (d 14), excreta dry matter, crude protein, energy, Ca and total P utilization linearly increased (p<0.05); however, the serum ALP activity, jejunal Na+-K+-ATPase activity, and duodenal NaPi-IIb mRNA level (d 21) linearly decreased (p<0.05).ConclusionThe results indicated that ducks aged from 1 to 21 d fed diets with 0.22% nPP had poor growth performance related to poor intestinal digestion and absorption ability; but when fed diets with 0.40%, 0.46%, and 0.58% nPP, ducks presented a better growth performance, intestinal digestion and absorption function.

Evaluation of high dietary phytase supplementation on performance, bone mineralization, and apparent ileal digestible energy of growing broilers.

The present study was conducted to evaluate four commercially available phytase sources supplemented at regular (R) and super-dose (S) levels on live performance, bone mineralization, and apparent ileal digestible energy. Broiler chickens were allocated in stainless steel battery brooders (six birds per cage and eight pen replicates per treatment). A basal diet formulated to contain 0.2% non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) and 0.7% Ca was subdivided to create 11 dietary treatments: (1) basal diet was kept as the negative control (NC); (2) NC + limestone and monoclacium phosphate to create positive controls 1 and 2 formulated to yield 0.3% and 0.4% NPP; (3) NC + phytase A (250 and 1,500 FTU/kg); (4) NC + phytase B (500 and 1,500 FTU/kg); (5) NC + phytase C (500 and 1,000 FTU/kg); (6) NC + phytase D (1,000 and 2,000 FYT/kg). Performance was evaluated on d 7, 14, and 22. Tibia bone ash, tibia breaking strength, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density were evaluated on d 22. Apparent energy digestibility was evaluated on d 24. At d 7, phytases A and C supplemented at S level improved (P < 0.05) body weight and weight gain when compared to the NC. At d 14 and 22, all phytase sources improved (P < 0.05) body weight, weight gain, and bone mineralization when compared to the chicks under the NC diet. Overall, phytase supplementation at S level improved 17% apparent ileal digestibility at 24 d. Throughout the grow out period, phytase super-dose yield (P < 0.05) better performance, bone characteristics, and energy digestibility than the regular dietary level. In conclusion, all phytase sources were able to compensate the phosphorus deficiency and promote performance and bone mineralization. High levels of phytase showed a higher response when compared to the lower levels of supplementation.

Effect of reduced dietary non-phytate phosphorus concentration, with or without calcium reduction, in diets supplemented with phytase for weaned piglets from 28 to 63 days of age

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of reduced dietary non-phytate phosphorus (nPP) or nPP and calcium (Ca) concentrations in diets supplemented with phytase on performance, bone mineralisation and serum parameters of weaned piglets from 28 to 63 days of age. A total of 168 barrows and gilts, weaned at 28 days of age, with an average initial bodyweight of 8.11 ± 0.61 kg were randomly allocated in a completely randomised block design. Treatments consisted of a positive control and an additional six treatments, in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, totalling seven treatments (Trt). The positive control (PC) diet was formulated to meet or exceed the nutrient requirements of pigs weighing 8–30 kg bodyweight, without phytase supplementation, and the six other diets were formulated similar to the PC, except with a reduction in the nPP concentration of 0.065, 0.130 or 0.195% (Phase Feeding 1 (PF1), PF2 or PF3 respectively) or similar to PF1, PF2 and PF3 minus 0.16% Ca, supplemented with 2000 FTU/kg of phytase, with eight replicate pens/Trt of three piglets each, in a three-phase feeding program. From Day 28 to Day 35, the average daily gain was higher (P &amp;lt; 0.05) and the feed conversion rate was lower (P &amp;lt; 0.05) respectively for piglets fed the PC when compared with those fed PF3 and PC treatment minus 0.160% calcium and minus 0.195% nPP (PF6). In contrast, when evaluating the period from Day 28 to 49, piglets fed PC presented the highest average daily gain, but only differed (P &amp;lt; 0.05) to those fed PF3 and PF6. When considering the overall period, at 63 days of age, no significant difference was detected (P &amp;gt; 0.05) between the PF Trts tested and the PC regarding performance. As for bone mineralisation at 63 days, bone P (BP) decreased as nPP in the diet decreased, regardless of the Ca level. However, except for PF3 and PF6, BP and third metacarpal bone ash concentration were respectively higher for pigs fed the PF Trts, when compared with PC. All treatments containing phytase resulted in a lower bone Ca:BP ratio when compared with PC. Serum P concentrations decreased as nPP in the diet decreased, regardless of the level of dietary Ca. However, with the exception of PF3 and PF6, serum P was not significantly different than pigs fed the PC. In conclusion, reducing nPP or nPP and Ca in diets containing 2000 FTU Ronozyme® HiPhos/kg phytase had no adverse effects on growth performance and increased BP and third metacarpal bone ash concentration compared with pigs fed a nutritionally adequate control diet.

Phosphorus Availability in Laying Hens Given Non-phytate Phosphorus Deficient Diets Containing Buckwheat.

To date, the effect of buckwheat phytase on laying hens has not yet been investigated. Thus, this study was conducted to compare the production performance, egg quality, and phosphorus (P) balance of laying hens given nonphytate P deficient diets supplemented with non-germinated buckwheat (BU) or germinated buckwheat (GBU). Experimental diets (17.8% CP, 2,988 kcal/kg ME) consisted of two control diets, the positive control (PC), satisfying all nutrient requirements and negative control (NC) containing 0.16% less non-phytate P than that in the PC diet, and six experimental diets (containing 10%, 15%, 20% BU or GBU), prepared by replacing maize with BU or GBU, along with the raw materials of NC diet. Fifty-six laying hens (46 week of age) were allocated to eight dietary groups (seven hens each) and experimental diets were given for a period of six weeks (week one was employed for acclimatization, and the subsequent five weeks for data collection). Deteriorated production performance (hen-day egg production, feed intake, egg weight and egg mass) and eggshell quality (shell breaking strength, shell weight and shell thickness) in laying hens given a non-phytate P deficient NC diet was restored by the addition of at least 15% BU and 10% GBU to the NC diet. Total P retention significantly increased in 20% BU, 15% GBU and 20% GBU groups as excretion decreased considerably in these groups than the NC group. Considering the hen-day egg production as an economically important parameter, we found that a 340 phytase unit (PU)/kg diet of buckwheat phytase was equivalent to 0.10% non-phytate P in laying hens. These results suggested that the addition of buckwheat in non-phytate P deficient diets can alleviate the deficiency and improve P availability in laying hens.

Non-phytate phosphorus requirement for male broilers subjected to two calcium supply regimens from 8 to 21 days of age under thermoneutral environment conditions

The purpose of this study was to determine the non-phytate phosphorus (nPP) requirement for male broiler subjected to two calcium supply regimens from 8 to 21 d of age, based on performance and bone mineralization. Birds were distributed in a complete randomized 4 × 2 factorial design with four nPP concentrations: 0.25, 0.35, 0.45 and 0.55%, and two Ca supply regimens: Ca fixed at 9.0 g/kg of diet (CaF) or varying together with the nPP concentrations tested keeping a fixed Ca:nPP ratio (CaV), with 8 battery cages/treatment and 9 birds/battery cage. Feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG) and Ca:P ratio deposited in the dry defatted tibia (TibCa:TibP) were quadraticaly increased by the increasing nPP concentrations, regardless of the Ca supply regimen adopted (p&lt;0.01). The nPP levels tested also influenced FCR and TibAsh, which presented a quadratic and linear response when CaF and CaV diets were used, respectively, and TibP and TibCa, which presented a quadratic response with both Ca supply regimen, CaF and CaV diets. Also, CaV diets provided a 2.86 and 5.02% higher FCR (p&lt;0.05) and TibCa (p&lt;0.01), respectively, when compared to CaF diets. Therefore, nPP nutritional requirement for male broilers reared at thermoneutral conditions from 8 to 21 d of age that provided better performance and bone mineralization were, respectively, 0.480 and 0.459% with CaF and 0.550% with CaV diets, indicating that, under thermoneutral conditions, CaV diets negatively affected growth performance of broilers, while positively affecting bone mineralization especially when low nPP levels are applied.

Phosphorus retention in corn, spray dried plasma protein, soybean meal, meat and bone meal, and canola meal using a precision-fed rooster assay

Four experiments were conducted to evaluate the precision-fed rooster assay for determining excreta phosphorus retention values for 5 feed ingredients in which roosters were precision-fed the ingredients and excreta were collected quantitatively for 48h. The first rooster assay determined the effects of increasing P intakes on excreta P retention values for corn. This assay involved feeding either 20g of corn or 20g of corn supplemented with increasing amounts of KH2PO4 to provide total P intakes of 51 to 351mg and non-phytate P intakes of 16 to 316mg. The excreta P retention value for corn fed alone was 75% but decreased greatly when non-phytate P intakes were 76mg or higher for the corn diets containing added KH2PO4. The second precision-fed rooster assay involved feeding increasing amounts of spray dried plasma protein (SDPP) (5 to 20g) which provided non-phytate P intakes of 61 to 242mg. Excretion of P increased and excreta P retention values decreased from 94 to 60% as SDPP intake increased from 5 to 20g. Experiment 3 determined excreta P retention values for solvent extracted dehulled soybean meal (SBM) (24g intake) and also the effect of increasing intakes of SDPP (5 to 10g) and meat and bone meal (MBM) (1.5 to 10g) on their excreta P retention values. The excreta P retention value for SBM was 41%. Excreta P retention values for SDPP again decreased as P intake increased. Excreta P retention values for MBM were low (27 to 35%) at all intakes. In Experiment 4, roosters were tube-fed 8, 16, or 24g of canola meal and excreta P retention values varied from 23 to 35% among intake levels. The results of this study indicated that excreta P retention values often varied greatly among different levels of ingredient and non-phytate phosphorus intake and suggest that the precision-fed assay may be useful for determining bioavailability of P only if non-phytate P intakes are low. In addition, the assay may not be accurate for ingredients which contain high Ca levels such as MBM.

Effect of supplementing graded concentrations of non-phytate phosphorus on performance, egg quality and bone mineral variables in White Leghorn layers

ABSTRACT1. An experiment was conducted to determine optimal non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) concentrations for White Leghorn (WL) layers (22–72 weeks) fed diet containing 38 g Ca/kg.2. Eight diets with graded concentrations (1.5–3.25 g/kg in increments of 0.25 g) of NPP were prepared. Each diet was fed to eight pen replicates containing 88 birds in each. Performance data was evaluated in three different phases (phase I-22–37 weeks, phase II-38–53 weeks and phase III-54–72 weeks). Optimum levels of NPP were determined by fitting a quadratic polynomial (QP) regression model.3. Egg production (EP) was not affected (P = 0.059) by the concentration of NPP and interaction between NPP and diet phase was non-significant, indicating that the lowest concentration (1.5 g/kg diet) of NPP used in the study was adequate across the three phases. However, EP was influenced by phase (P < 0.001).4. Optimum concentration of NPP for feed intake (FI) was estimated to be 1.5, 1.71 and 2.40 g/kg diet during phases I, II and III, respectively. FI per egg mass (EM) or feed efficiency (FE) responded quadratically with NPP and also differed significantly between phases. Optimum concentration of NPP for FE during phases I, II and III was 1.5, 2.56 and 2.32 g/kg diet, respectively.5. Egg weight (EW), EM, shell weight and thickness were not affected by NPP concentration although all of these variables (except shell weight) were influenced by phases.6. Breaking strength of tibia and Ca contents in tibia ash were not affected by the concentration of NPP, but bone ash and P contents in tibia ash were influenced (P < 0.001) by NPP. Predicted optimal concentrations of NPP for responses for tibia ash at 44 or 72 weeks, tibia ash P at 44 weeks and tibia ash P at 72 weeks were 1.55, 2.63 and 1.5 g/kg diet, respectively.7. Based on the results, it was concluded that WL layers required 1.5 g, 2.63 g and 2.4 g, respectively/kg diet during phase I, II and III with the calculated daily intake of 137.3, 278.3 and 262 mg NPP/b/d.

Metabolizable energy and standardized ileal digestible amino acid contents of a high-protein sunflower meal fed to broiler chicks

This study was conducted to determine the standardized ileal digestible amino acid (AA) and nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) contents of a high-protein sunflower meal (HiSFM) fed to broiler chicks. A total of 144 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to one of three dietary treatments with eight replicate cages of six birds. Birds were fed the experimental diets from day 14 to day 21 of age. The results showed that gross energy, crude protein, nonphytate phosphorus, lysine (Lys), methionine (Met), threonine (Thr), and total nonstarch polysaccharide contents of HiSFM were 4178 kcal kg−1, 48.7%, 0.86%, 1.59%, 0.75%, 1.45%, and 14.6%, as-fed basis, respectively. The standardized ileal digestible Lys, Met, and Thr of HiSFM were 12.6, 6.8, and 11.6 g kg−1(dry matter basis), respectively. In addition, the AMEncontent of HiSFM fed to broiler chicks was 1785 kcal kg−1. In conclusion, compared with literature values for sunflower meal, HiSFM had lower standardized ileal digestibility of indispensable AA and higher AMEncontent. The standardized ileal digestible AA and AMEnvalues of HiSFM obtained from the current study could be used when formulating poultry diets and to obtain predictable bird performance.

Effects of dietary phosphorous supplementation on laying performance, egg quality, bone health and immune responses of laying hens challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide

BackgroundPhosphorus is an essential nutrient to maintain poultry health and performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary phosphorus levels on egg production, egg quality, bone health, immune responses of laying hens challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide.MethodsThree hundred laying hens at 28 wk were randomly divided into 2 dietary treatments with 10 replicates of 15 birds. The wheat-soybean based diets contained either 0.12% or 0.4% non-phytate phosphorus (NPP). At 32 wk of age, all the birds of each dietary treatment were injected into the abdomen with 1.5 mg/kg body weight (BW) of either LPS or saline once a day at 24-h intervals for continuous 9 d. The performance of laying hens was evaluated for 9 d. The eggs after the fifth injection were collected to value the egg quality. Three hours after the first injection, blood was collected to measure serum metabolite and immune response associated parameters. Three hours after the fifth injection, the hens were euthanized to obtain tibia, cecal tonsils and jejunum.ResultsCompared with saline-injected hens, LPS-injected hens had lower feed intake and egg production (P < 0.05). Eggshell thickness, strength, albumin height and Haugh unit were significantly increased in LPS-injected hens compared with saline-injected hens (P < 0.05). Furthermore, laying hens challenged with LPS had lower villious height/ crypt depth ration than those received saline. Serum calcium, phosphorus and SOD activities significantly decreased in the LPS-injected hens compared with the control (P < 0.05). LPS up-regulated expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 in cecum, and serum concentration of MDA, IL-1β and IL-6 (P < 0.05), whereas 0.40% dietary non-phytate phosphorus supplementation significantly increased (P < 0.05) villi height/crypt depth ratio, decreased (P < 0.05) serum MDA and IFN-γ concentration compared with the 0.12% non-phytate phosphorus group.ConclusionIn summary, this study demonstrates that 0.40% dietary non-phytate phosphorus supplementation significantly increased calcium and phosphorus levels of eggshell, increased villi height/crypt depth ratio, decreased serum MDA and IFN-γ concentration compared with the 0.12% non-phytate phosphorus groups. The results indicate that high level of dietary non-phytate phosphorus exerts a potential effect in alleviating systemic inflammation of LPS-challenged laying hens.

The effects of calcium source and concentration on performance, bone mineralisation and serum traits in male broiler chickens from 1 to 21 days of age

In total, 840 1-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were used to evaluate the effects of seven dietary calcium (Ca) concentrations (4.0, 5.5, 7.0, 8.5, 10.0, 11.5 and 13.0 g/kg, at a fixed concentration of 4.0 g/kg of non-phytate phosphorus) and two calcium sources (oyster shell and limestone) on broiler chicken Ca requirements for optimal growth rate and bone mineralisation from 1 to 21 days of age. All chickens were randomly distributed into 14 treatment groups (seven treatments of each Ca source), each being replicated four times, with 15 birds per each replicate. Results indicated that Ca source and Ca source × Ca concentration interaction had no significant (P &amp;gt; 0.05) effects on birds average feed intake, but increasing Ca concentration to &amp;gt;8.5 g/kg significantly deteriorated average feed intake. Average weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly influenced by Ca source × Ca concentration interaction, whereby high concentrations of Ca from oyster shell resulted in a poorer performance for both criteria than did those from limestone. Serum Ca, P and total protein were not affected by Ca source. However, increasing Ca concentrations had adverse effects on serum P concentration (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Toe ash, tibia ash and phosphorus concentrations at 21 days were not influenced by Ca source, but were depressed as dietary Ca concentration increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05). A broken-line regression analysis indicated that the Ca requirements to optimise average weight gain and tibia ash when limestone was used as a Ca source were 5.54 and 6.58 g/kg of diet respectively, and 5.80 and 6.43 g/kg of diet respectively, when oyster shell was used. In conclusion, the results indicated that Ca concentration, more than Ca source, has a significant influence on broiler chicken performance and bone mineralisation, all of which deteriorate when the dietary Ca concentration exceeds 8.5 g/kg at the constant available-phosphorus concentration of 4.0 g/kg.

Effect of Dietary Non-phytate Phosphorus Levels on the Diversity and Structure of Cecal Microbiota in Meat Duck from 1 to 21 d of age

The study was conducted to distinguish the effect of dietary non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) levels on the community diversity and structure of the cecal microbiota in meat duck based on 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. In total, 525 1-d-old ducklings were fed diets (105 ducklings, 7 pens of 15 ducklings, on each diet) containing five levels of NPP (0.22, 0.34, 0.40, 0.46, and 0.58%) for 21 days. The results showed that dietary NPP levels linearly and quadratically increased (P < 0.05) 21 d body weight, 1 to 21 d feed intake and NPP intake, and contrarily, linearly decreased (P < 0.05) β-diversity of cecal microbial population in ducks. ß-diversity analyses showed that microbiota clustering based on dietary NPP levels occured, with 0.22% NPP groups distinctly different from the 0.46% and 0.58% NPP group samples. Moreover, dietary NPP levels could change the relative abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria (linear, P < 0.05), genera Eubacterium coprostanoligenes (quadratic, P < 0.05), Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 (quadratic, P < 0.05) and Subdoligrannulum (linear, P < 0.05), and Lachnospiraceae family (quadratic, P < 0.05) in cecal microbiota of ducks. Increasing the dietary NPP level influenced the cecal microbiota and positively affected the growth of meat ducks.

Dietary calcium requirements of Sheldrake ducklings from 1 to 21 days of age

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary calcium (Ca) level on growth performance and bone characteristics to evaluate the Ca requirements for Sheldrake ducklings from 1 to 21 days of age. A total of 1080 day-old male Campbell Sheldrake ducklings were randomly allotted to one of six treatments with six replicate cages of 30 birds per cage with a completely randomised design. A basal diet with 0.40% non-phytate phosphorus was supplemented with Ca source (calcium carbonate) to achieve graded concentrations of Ca (0.45–1.20%) in diets with an increment of 0.15%. The bodyweight, average daily gain and average daily feed intake displayed quadratic responses to increasing concentrations of dietary Ca with maximal responses for ducklings fed the diets with 0.60 and 0.75% Ca. Serum Ca concentration, tibia ash percentage, Ca content in tibia ash and bone mineral density were increased linearly (P &amp;lt; 0.02) as dietary Ca concentrations increased. According to the non-linear regression analyses, the Ca requirements for maximal weight gain and bone mineralisation of Sheldrake ducklings from 1 to 21 days of age were estimated at 0.60% and 0.64–0.87% respectively.

Effects of dietary 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol in calcium and phosphorous-deficient diets on growth performance, tibia related indices and immune responses in broiler chickens.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary 1α-hydroxycholecalciferol (1α-OH-D3) in calcium (Ca)- and phosphorous (P)-deficient diets on growth performance, carcass characteristics, tibia related parameters, and immune responses of broiler chickens. A total of 280 one-day-old broiler chickens (Ross 308) were assigned to 20 floor pens and 4 dietary treatments with 5 replicates. Dietary treatments consisted of starter diets (starter diet of treatment A: 1% Ca, 0.73% total phosphorus [tP]; starter diet of treatment B: 0.85% Ca, 0.64% tP + 5 μg/kg of 1α-OH-D3; starter diet of treatment C: 0.85% Ca, 0.59% tP + 5 μg/kg of 1α-OH-D3; starter diet of treatment D: 0.85% Ca, 0.54% tP + 5 μg/kg of 1α-OH-D3), grower diets (grower diet of treatment A: 0.86% Ca, 0.68% tP; grower diet of treatment B: 0.73% Ca, 0.59% tP + 5 μg/kg of 1α-OH-D3; grower diet of treatment C: 0.73% Ca, 0.55% tP + 5 μg/kg of 1α-OH-D3; grower diet of treatment D: 0.73% Ca, 0.50% tP + 5 μg/kg of 1α-OH-D3) and finisher diets (finisher diet of treatment A: 0.81% Ca, 0.64% tP; finisher diet of treatment B: 0.68% Ca, 0.56% tP + 5 μg/kg of 1α-OH-D3; finisher diet of treatment C: 0.68% Ca, 0.52% tP + 5 μg/kg of 1α-OH-D3; finisher diet of treatment D: 0.68% Ca, 0.48% tP + 5 μg/kg of 1α-OH-D3). Results showed that body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) of broilers in treatment B were similar to those of broilers in treatment A at the end of the trial (P < 0.05). Broilers in treatments C and D had lower BWG and FI than those in treatment A during the whole trial (P < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio, carcass traits and relative weight of lymphoid organs were not affected by dietary treatments (P > 0.05). Dietary treatments had no significant effect on antibody titers against Newcastle and Influenza disease viruses as well as sheep red blood cells. Dietary treatments had no significant effects on tibia ash and tibial dyschondroplasia score. Broilers fed Ca-P deficient diets had lower tibia Ca and P than those in treatment A (P < 0.05). In conclusion, results indicated that broilers fed Ca-P deficient diets supplemented with 5 μg/kg 1α-OH-D3 failed to achieve the same tibia Ca and P values as broilers fed nonphytate phosphorus adequate diets.

Negative effect of phytase superdosing in laying hens

Hisex hens, aged 24 weeks, were divided into 6 groups. Each group consisted of 4 cages with 10 hens per cage with dimensions and equipment meeting the EU directives. This 2 × 3 factorial experiment included two levels of calcium (Ca; 35 or 42 g/kg) and 3 different additions of 6-phytase OptiPhos&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; (Ph; 0, 300, and 1500 phytase units (FTU)/kg) to the diet. The content of nonphytate phosphorus (NPP) in all diets was the same (1.8 g/kg). The experiment lasted 12 weeks. A significant interaction of Ph × Ca (P = 0.029) was observed in hen-day egg production. A diet with 35 g/kg Ca and the highest dose of Ph (1500 FTU/kg) resulted in a lower hen-day egg production (84.1%) than did the other treatments (91.5–88.6%). Phytase superdosing negatively influenced egg mass production (P = 0.001) and the feed conversion ratio (P = 0.018). Neither Ph nor Ca influenced eggshell ash content. Both additions of Ph into mixed feed decreased Haugh units (P &amp;lt; 0.001). A higher content of Ca in the diet increased shell thickness (P = 0.024) and shell breaking strength (P = 0.039), while Ph addition increased shell percentage (P = 0.004) and shell breaking strength (P = 0.009). The results of this experiment demonstrate the unsuitability of Ph superdosing in mixed feed for laying hens.