Actions for Impact of Varying Levels of Phytase on Laying Hen Production and Performance Throughout Their Productive Life

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Impact of Varying Levels of Phytase on Laying Hen Production and Performance Throughout Their Productive Life

Author
Bianchi, Sophia
Published
[University Park, Pennsylvania] : Pennsylvania State University, 2024.
Physical Description
1 electronic document
Additional Creators
Boney, John
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Open Access.
Summary
Phosphorus (P) is an essential mineral for poultry, critical for egg production, eggshell quality, and skeletal health. However, most phosphorus in plant-based feed is bound to phytate, which hens cannot readily digest. To overcome this, non-phytate phosphorus (nPP) is often added to diets, but excess phosphorus increases feed costs and environmental impact. Phytase, an enzyme that breaks down phytate, improves phosphorus availability, reducing the need for nPP and allowing for more sustainable and cost-effective diets. These studies evaluated the efficacy of HiPhoriusTM (HP), a new generation phytase, on egg production (EP%) and egg quality, focusing on whether supplementing HP can sustain performance in diets with reduced nPP. The first study examined HP's effects in hens from 18 to 34 weeks of age. Four treatments were tested: a Positive Control (PC), a Negative Control (NC) with 0.15% nPP, NC with 600 FYT/kg HP, and NC with 900 FYT/kg HP. Phytase activity exceeded targets, shifting focus to superdosing effects. Superdosing phytase is able to liberate P more completely, thus enabling it to be a potential benefit to hen performance. Performance data were analyzed using GLM and repeated measures ANOVA. Results showed significant differences in EP%, especially during weeks 22-26 and 31-34, with hens on the NC diet showing the lowest EP%. In contrast, hens receiving superdosed HP performed similarly to the PC group, suggesting that superdosing can offset the reduced nPP in maintaining egg production. The second study investigated post-peak production (40-48 weeks), using the same dietary treatments. Data analysis via one-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences in EP% or egg quality across treatments, indicating that phytase supplementation had a limited effect in this phase. In conclusion, these studies demonstrate that phytase efficacy, particularly superdosing, varies with the production stage. Superdosing HiPhoriusTM is effective in sustaining egg production and quality during early and peak production (18-34 weeks) with reduced nPP, providing economic and environmental benefits. However, in the post-peak phase (40-48 weeks), standard or reduced phytase doses may be sufficient, as performance effects are less pronounced.
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Dissertation Note
M.S. Pennsylvania State University 2024.
Technical Details
The full text of the dissertation is available as an Adobe Acrobat .pdf file ; Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view the file.
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