Effects of Microbial Phytase Supplementation on Mineral Composition of Tibia and Mineral Utilization in Broiler Fed Maize - Based Diets

An experiment was conducted to determine effect of supplementing maize based diet with different levels of microbial phytase on apparent nutrient bioavailability and tibia bone mineral of broilers. Eighty, day-old broiler were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments. The control diet contained 0 FTU/kg microbial phytase which was replaced by 200, 400, 600 and 800 FTU/kg microbial phytase of the basal feed combinations. Phytase supplementation of diet increased P, Ca, Zn, Cu and Phytate P bioavailability significantly with 800 FTU/kg microbial phytase inclusion. No significant (p>0.05) difference was observed in the calcium content (r = 0.94) of the tibia bone of birds fed diets 400 (38.90%), 600 (38.91%) and 800 (39.08%) FTU/kg microbial phytase. Although, the phosphorus contents of birds fed diets containing 200 FTU/kg, 400 FTU/kg and 600 FTU/kg were not significantly (p>0.05) different, the copper and iron levels were however vary significantly. The result also showed a significant correlation (r = 0.98) between the phytase level and phytate phosphorus.