Phytase, citric acid, and 1alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol improve phytate phosphorus utilization in chicks fed a corn-soybean meal diet

Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, 1207 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.

Previous research from our laboratory has shown that phytase, citric acid, and 1alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol [1alpha-(OH) D3] individually improve phytate P use in young chicks fed a P-deficient corn-soybean meal (C-SBM) diet. The current study was conducted to evaluate combinations of these additives on phytate P utilization. In 3 chick experiments, male crossbred chicks (New Hampshire x Columbian) were fed experimental diets from 8 to 21 d of age. The C-SBM basal diet used in all assays contained no supplemental P and was calculated to provide 23% CP, 0.13% nonphytate P (0.39% total P), 0.62% Ca, 25 mg of cholecalciferol/kg, and 3,260 kcal of TME/kg. In all 3 experiments, factorial arrangements (2 x 2 or 2 x 2 x 2) were used to evaluate 2 levels of phytase (0 and 300 units/kg), citric acid (0 and 3 or 4%), and 1alpha(OH) D3 (0 and 5, 10, or 15 microg/kg). Phytase, citric acid, and 1alpha-(OH) D3 each increased weight gain and tibia ash in all 3 experiments. There were some significant interactions among the compounds, but these were not consistent across experiments. Using standard curve methodology for tibia ash data, it was estimated that 0.03, 0.02, and 0.04% P were released by 3% citric acid, 300 units of phytase/kg, and 5 microg 1alpha-(OH) D3/kg, respectively, and that the combination of all 3 compounds resulted in the release of 0.13% P. Our results indicate that all 3 compounds increased phytate P use, and that their effects were generally additive, with some possible synergism between citric acid and 1alpha-(OH) D3.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. L. Hughes, J. P. Dahiya, C. L. Wyatt, and H. L. Classen Effect of Quantum phytase on nutrient digestibility and bone ash in White Leghorn laying hens fed corn-soybean meal-based diets Poult. Sci., June 1, 2009; 88(6): 1191 - 1198. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. Han, X. D. Yang, T. Zhang, H. Li, W. L. Li, Z. Y. Zhang, and J. H. Yao Effects of 1{alpha}-hydroxycholecalciferol on growth performance, parameters of tibia and plasma, meat quality, and type IIb sodium phosphate cotransporter gene expression of one- to twenty-one-day-old broilers Poult. Sci., February 1, 2009; 88(2): 323 - 329. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Biggs and C. M. Parsons The Effects of Several Organic Acids on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibilities, and Cecal Microbial Populations in Young Chicks Poult. Sci., December 1, 2008; 87(12): 2581 - 2589. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Liem, G. M. Pesti, and H. M. Edwards Jr. The Effect of Several Organic Acids on Phytate Phosphorus Hydrolysis in Broiler Chicks Poult. Sci., April 1, 2008; 87(4): 689 - 693. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. L. Vieira, O. A. Oyarzabal, D. M. Freitas, J. Berres, J. E. M. Pena, C. A. Torres, and J. L. B. Coneglian Performance of Broilers Fed Diets Supplemented with Sanguinarine-Like Alkaloids and Organic Acids J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2008; 17(1): 128 - 133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]