EFFECT OF PHYTASE SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF ROSS 308 BROILER CHICKENS FED CABBAGE MEAL-BASED DIETS

Abstract

A total of one hundred and fourty four one-day-old ROSS 308 broiler chickens (BC) were fed broiler starter diet till day 21. Experimental diets were fed from day 22-30, after which the BC's feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded. The experiment had three replicates with eight birds per replicate. Six semi-purified diets with 100, 200, and 300g/kg dried cabbage meal (DCM)-based diets and 0 or 1000 units of phytase (Natuphos) were formulated in a 2x3 factorial arrangement. Data were analysed using the general linear model of SAS. Orthogonal polynomial contrast was used to determine phytase (Phy) and their interaction with DCM. The responses for FI, BWG gain and FCR were not significant (P>0.05) as dietary inclusion levels of DCM increased across the sequential diets. Body weight gain was influenced (P<0.05) by the addition of phytase and the interaction with DCM, DCM×Phy at 100g/kg DCM inclusion. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the birds had no significant (P>0.05) response to feeding supplemental phytase. Though the interaction of DCM*Phy clearly resulted in a decrease in FCR of the birds fed 200 and 300g/kg DCM inclusion, the lower the ratio, the better is the index. Comparing the mean BWG, FI and FCR of the birds at specific level of DCM inclusion in the diet showed no variation (P>0.05). Overall, bird performance was essentially affected by phytase addition at 1000 FTU/kg,