Evaluation of Phytase Supplementation on Performance, Metabolic Energy, Ileal Histomorphology, Meat and Bone Mineralization of Broiler Chickens

Abstract Phytase as a feed additive has been shown to promote broiler performance and bone mineralization. This study evaluated the effects of microbial phytase (produced by L. plantarum A1-E and C. tropicalis TKd-3) on growth performance, metabolic energy, ileal histomorphology, and meat and bone mineralization in broilers. One hundred forty one-day-old broiler chicks were distributed into four treatments, five replicates, and seven chicks in each replicate. The experiment consisted of (FA) basal diet without phytase (negative control); (FB) basal diet with L. plantarum A1-E phytase (500 FTU/kg of feed); (FC) basal diet with C. tropicalis TKd-3 phytase (500 FTU/kg of feed); and (FD) basal diet with commercial phytase (500 FTU/kg of feed, positive control). Results revealed that FB and FC treatments improved the broiler performance index (P  0.05). Ileal histomorphology showed that FB treatment increased villus height, villi height to crypt depth ratio, and villus surface area (P < 0.05). Breast meat mineral content of broiler revealed the highest mineral content in FB treatment, mainly of the minerals P, Mg, and Fe (P < 0.05). Moreover, the FC treatment resulted in the highest mineral content in thigh meat, particularly for the minerals Ca, P, Mg, Zn, and Fe (P < 0.05). Tibia bone mineralization showed that FB treatment had the most significant effect (P < 0.05) on the mineral content of P, Mg, and Fe. Conclusively, microbial phytase (L. plantarum A1-E and C. tropicalis TKd-3) increased performance index, whereas L. plantarum A1-E phytase improved villus surface area, increasing the ileum mineral absorption, breast meat mineral content, and tibia mineral deposits.