The effect of feeding with feedstuff containing microbial and plant phytase additive on performance of young slaughter turkeys

Abstract

One hundred and twenty B.U.T.9 turkey females were studied. They were allocated into four groups, each of three equal replications. From the seventh to the 16th week of rearing, the birds were fed with balanced feedstuff mixtures (Group I – control) with the addition of phytase in the amount of 750 FTU·1 kg⁻¹ of feed (Groups II and IV) or with 10% addition of wheat bran (Groups III and IV). The groups fed with the wheat bran addition reached 94% body mass of control group, independently from phytase additive. Birds fed without bran but with phytase additive were 0.5% heavier than the ones fed without this enzyme. Feed conversion ratio per 1 kg of body mass gain was significantly greater in the groups fed with bran additive, independent of the use of phytase and it equalled 3.02 kg·kg⁻¹ gain, whereas in the groups fed without bran it was only 2.58 kg·kg⁻¹ body mass gain.

Keywords:

• Phosphorus
• phytate
• turkey females