Effects of phytase supplementation to reduced-nutrient diets on performance, egg quality, and economic parameters in commercial layers

Background: Exogenous enzyme supplementation is an effective and cost-saving mechanism for increasing the availability of dietary nutrients by digestion reducing excretion. Objective: To evaluate effects phytase on performance, egg quality, economic parameters in commercial laying hens fed reduced-nutrient diets from 70 weeks age. Methods: Novogen White® (n=256) were randomly allocated to four treatment groups, with eight replicates each group: PC (positive control): conventional diet not supplemented phytase; reduced levels (RN) P (-0.12%), Ca (-0.10%), ME (-14 kcal/kg), 300 units (FTU/kg; RN300FTU); (-0.16%), (-0.13%), (-18 CP (-8%), synthetic amino acids (-0.01%), 600 FTU phytase/kg (RN600FTU); (-0.18% P), (-0.15%), (-20 (-20%), 900 (RN900FTU). Results: The layers RN300FTU had 2.68% higher production than those diet. Egg mass produced PC- RN300FTU-fed was statistically similar. Eggshell thickness increased PC-fed hens. Feed cost RN900FTU approximately 9% lower compared that Conclusion: best performance results achieved when a phytase.