EFFECT OF PHYTASE SUPPLEMENTATION ON EGG PROUDUCTION AND EGG SHELL QUALITY OF AGED LAYING HENS

Abstract

This study was carried out at the poultry breeding Farm, Poultry Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University. The study aimed to investigate the effect of different levels of phytase on egg production and eggshell quality measurements in laying hen of(Hy-line;W36 and Brown) layers during the last period of production. Feed was offered ad lipitum in metal feeders; water was supplied through automatic nipples. The layers were directly fed a commercial diet according to the producer recommended manual guide of Hy-Line layers 2011 from 52 week of age to 64 week of age as control treatment and supplied 2 levels of phytase (300FTU- 450FTU). Data presented in this study showed an improvement in egg mass of bird fed phytase 450 FTU compared with control group but phytase 300 FTU was intermediate. This was the trend of egg number for white Hy-line hens. Increasing egg production as a results of Phytase supplementation may be due to that phytate presented in the most ingredients of poultry diet is capable of forming complexes with essential nutrients such as protein and some in organic captions. The main effects data indicated that, egg mass at 52 and 64 weeks of ages weren’t significantly different, it can be observed that, the addition of phytase enzyme at a levels of 300 and 450 (FTU) kg-1 of feed led to an increase in the number of eggs compared to control.

Kye Words: Phytase, egg production, egg quality and feed consumption.