The Effects of Organic or Inorganic Zinc and Microbial Phytase, Alone or in Combination, on the Performance, Biochemical Parameters and Nutrient Utilization of Broilers Fed a Diet Low in Available Phosphorus

This study examined the effects of zinc (Zn) from
different sources and microbial phytase on the broiler performance,
biochemical parameters and digestibility of nutrients when they were
added to broiler diets containing low available phosphorus. A total of
875, 1-day-old male broilers of the Ross 308 strain were randomly
separated into two control groups (positive and negative) and five
treatment groups each containing 125 birds; each group was divided
into 5 replicates of 25 birds. The positive control (PC) group was fed
a diet containing adequate concentration (0.45%) of available
phosphorus due to mineral premix (except zinc) and feeds. The
negative control (NC) group was fed a basal diet including low
concentration (0.30%) of available phosphorus due to mineral premix
(except zinc) and feeds. The basal diet was supplemented with 0.30%
phosphorus and 500 FTU phytase (PH); 0.30% phosphorus and
organic zinc (OZ; 75mg/kg of Zn from Zn-proteinate); 0.30%
phosphorus and inorganic zinc (IZ; 75 mg/kg of Zn from ZnSO4);
0.30% phosphorus, organic zinc and 500 FTU phytase (OZ + PH);
and 0.30% phosphorus, inorganic zinc and 500 FTU phytase (IZ +
PH) in the treatment groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. The lowest
value for mean body weight was in the negative control group on a
diet containing low available phosphorus. The use of
supplementation with organic and inorganic zinc alone or in
combination with microbial phytase significantly (P<0.05) increased
the digestibility of Zn in the male broilers. Supplementation of those
diets with OZ + PH or IZ + PH was very effective for increasing the
body weight, body weight gain and the feed conversion ratio. In
conclusion, the effects on broilers of diets with low phosphorus levels
may be overcome by the addition of inorganic or organic zinc
compounds in combination with microbial phytase.

• Mustafa Midilli
• Mustafa Salman
• Omer Hakan Muglali
• Tülay Ögretmen
• Sena Cenesiz
• Neslihan Ormanci

• Broiler
• Performance
• Phytase
• Phosphorus
• Zinc.

[1] Reddy NR, Sahte SK, Salunkhe DK: Phytates in legumes and cereals.
AdvIn Food Res, 28, 1–91, 1982.
[2] Brink EJ, Dekker PR, Van Beresteijn ECH, Beynen AC: Inhibitory
effect of dietary soybean protein vs. casein on magnesium absorption in
rats. J Nutr, 121, 1374-1381, 1991.
[3] Davies, NT, Nightingale R: The effects of phytate on intestinal
absorption and secretion of zinc, and whole-body retention of zinc,
copper, iron and manganese in rats. Br J Nutr, 34, 243-258, 1975.
[4] Lonnerdahl B, Bell JG, Hendrickx AG, Burns RA, Keen CL: Effect of
phytate removal on zinc absorption from soy formula. Am J ClinNutr,
48, 1301-1306, 1988.
[5] O’dell BL, Savage JE: Effects of phytic acid on zinc availability.
ProcSocExpBiol Med, 103, 304-306, 1960.
[6] Ellis R, Morris ER, Hill, AD, Smith JC: Phytate:zinc molar ratio,
mineral and fibre content of three hospital diets. J Am Diet Assoc, 81,
26–29, 1960.
[7] Fordyce EJ, Forbs, RM, Robbins, KR, Erdman JW: Phytate,
calcium/zinc molar ratios. Are they predictive of zinc bioavailability? J
Food Sci, 52, 440-444, 1987.
[8] NRC: Nutrient requirements of poultry. 9th rev. ed. National Academy
Press, Washington, DC, 1994.
[9] Burrell, AL, Dozier WA, Davis AJ, Compton MM, Freeman ME,
Vendrell PF, Ward TL: Responses of broilers to dietary zinc
concentrations and sources in relation to environmental implications.
Brit PoultSci, 45, 255–263, 2004.
[10] Simons PCM, Versteegh HAJ, Jongbloed AW, Kemme PA, Slump P,
Bos KD, Wolters, MGE, Beudeker RF, Versschoor GL: Improvement of
phosphorus availability by microbial phytase in broilers and pigs. Br J
Nutr, 64, 525–540, 1990.
[11] Yi X, Kornegay ET, Denbow DM: Effect of microbial phytase on
nitrogen and amino acid digestibility and nitrogen retention of turkey
poults fed corn-soybean meal diets. PoultSci, 75, 979–990, 1996.
[12] Swick RA, Ivey FJ: Effects of dietary phytase addition on broiler
performance in phosphorus deficient diets. PoultSci, 69 (Suppl. 1): 133
(Abstr), 1990.
[13] Brown TF, Zeringue LK: Laboratory evaluations of solubility and
structural integrity of complexed and chelated trace mineral
supplements. J Dairy Sci, 77, 181-189, 1994.
[14] Pierce JL, Shafer BL, Power R, Dawson KA: Nutritional means to lower
trace mineral excretion from poultry without compromising
performance. PoultSci, 84 (Suppl.1): 11-17, 2005.
[15] Maenz DD: Enzymatic characteristics of phytases as they relate to their
use in animal feeds. Pages 61-83 in enzymes in farm animal nutrition.
MR Bedford, and GG Partridge, ed. CAB International, Wallingford,
UK, 2001.
[16] Onyango EM, Bedford MR, Adeola O: Efficacy of an evolved
Escherichia coli phytase in diets of broiler chicks. Poul. Sci 84, 248-255,
2005.
[17] Cabahug S, Ravindran V, Selle PH, Bryden WL: Response of broiler
chickens to microbial phytase as influenced by dietary phytic acid and
non-phytate phosphorus levels. I. Effects on bird performance and toe
ash content. Br PoultSci 40, 660–666, 1999.
[18] Ravindran V, Selle PH, Ravindran G, Morel PCH, Kies AK, Bryden
WL: Microbial phytase improves performance, apparent metabolizable
energy, and ileal amino acid digestibility of broilers fed a lysinedeficient
diet. PoultSci 80, 338-344, 2001.
[19] Wedekind KJ, Baker DH: Zinc bioavailability in feed-grade sources of
zinc. J AnimSci, 68, 684-689, 1990.
[20] Wedekind KJ, Hortin AE, Baker DH: Methodology for assessing zinc
bioavailability: efficacy estimates for zinc methionine, zinc sulfate, and
zinc oxide. J AnimSci, 70, 178–187, 1992.
[21] Cao J, Henry PR, Guo R: Chemical characteristics and relative
bioavailability of supplemental organic zinc sources for poultry and
ruminants. J AnimSci, 78, 2039–2054, 2000.
[22] Ao T, Pierce JL, Power R, Dawson KA, Pescatore AJ, Cantor AH, Ford
MJ: Evaluation of Bioplex Zn as an organic zinc source for chicks.
International J PoultSci, 5, 808–811, 2006.
[23] Fordyce EJ, Forbs RM, Robbins KR, Erdman JW: Phytate, calcium/zinc
molar ratios. Are they predictive of zinc bioavailability? J Food Sci, 52,
440-444, 1987.
[24] Lessire M: Effect of feeding technique, ad libitum, dry or wet force
feeding, on the metabolisable energy values of raw materials for poultry.
Br PoultSci, 31 (4): 785-793, 1990.
[25] AOAC: Official method of analysis. 15th ed. Association of Official
Analytical Chemist. Washington DC, 1990.
[26] Carpenter KJ, Clegg KM: The metabolizable energy of poultry feeding
stuffs in relation to their chemical composition. J Sci Food Ag, 7, 45-51,
1956.
[27] SAS: Statistical software: SAS Compus drive, Carry, NC 27513 USA,
2009.
[28] Namkung H, Leeson S: Effect of phytase enzyme on dietary nitrogencorrected
apparent metabolizable energy and ileal digestibility of
nitrogen and amino acids in broiler chicks. PoultSci, 78, 1317-1319,
1999.
[29] Singh PK, Khatta VK, Thakur RS: Effect of phytase supplementation in
maize based diet on growth performance and nutrients utilization of
broiler chickens. Indian J AnimSci, 73, 455-458, 2003.
[30] Roberson KD, Edwards HM: Effects of 1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol
and phytase on zinc utilization in broiler chicks. Poultry Sci, 73, 1312–
1326, 1994.
[31] Ao T, Pierce JL, Pescatore AJ, Cantor AH, Dawson KA, Ford MJ,
Shafer BL: Effects of organic zinc and phytase supplementation in a
maize-soybean meal diet on the performance and tissue zinc content of
broiler chicks. Br. PoultSci, 48, 690–695, 2007.
[32] Broz J, Oldale P, Perrin-Voltz AH, Rychen G, Schulze J, Nunes CS:
Effect of supplemental phytase on performance and phosphorus
utilization in broiler chickens fed a low phosphorus diet without addition
of inorganic phosphates. Br PoultSci, 35, 273-280, 1994.
[33] Sebastian S, Touchburn SP, Chavez ER, Lague PC: The effects of
supplemental microbial phytase on the performance and utilization of
dietary calcium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc in broiler chickens fed
corn-soybean diets. PoultSci, 75, 729-736, 1996.
[34] Revy PS, Jondreville C, Dourmad JY, Nys Y: Zinc in pig nutrition: The
essential trace element and potential risk for the environment. Nat. Inst.
Agronomic Res, Anim Prod (Paris, France) 16, 3–18, 2003.
[35] Sahin K, Kucuk O: Zinc supplementation alleviates heat stress in laying
Japanese quail. J Nutr, 133 (9): 2808-2811, 2003.
[36] Zhou P, Yang ZB, Yang WR, Wang XY, Jiang SZ, Zhang GG: Effects
of a new recombinant phytase on the performance and mineral
utilization of broilers fed phosphorus deficient diets. J ApplPoult Res,
17, 331–339, 2008.
[37] Macdonald RS: The role of zinc in growth and cell prolifereation. J
Nutr,130, 1500-1508, 2000.
[38] Spears JW: Zinc methionine for ruminants: Relative bioavailability of
zinc in lambs and effects of growth and performance of growing heifers.
J AnimSci, 67: 835-843, 1989.
[39] Herzig I, Navratilova M, Totusek J, Suchy P, Vecerek V, Blahova J,
Zraly Z: The effect of humic acid on zinc accumulation in chicken
broiler tissues. Czech J AnimSci, 54, 121-127, 2009.
[40] Aksu DS, Aksu T, Ozsoy B: The effects of lower supplementation levels
of organically complexed minerals (zinc, copper and manganese) versus
inorganic forms on hematological and biochemical parameters in broiler.
KafkasUniv Vet FakDerg, 16, 553-559, 2010.
[41] Kucuk O, Kahraman A, Kurt I, Yıldız N, Onmaz AC: A combination of
zinc and pyridoxine supplementationto the diet of laying hens improves
performance and egg quality. Biol Trace Elem Res, 126, 165-175, 2008.
[42] Lu J, Combs GF: Effect of excess dietary zinc on pancreatic exocrine
function in the chick. J Nutr, 118, 681-689, 1988.
[43] Boukaiba N, Flament C, Acher S, Chappuis P, Piau A, Fusselier M,
Dardenne M, Lemonnier D: A physiological amount of zinc
supplementation: effects on nutritional, lipid, and thymic status in an
elderly population. Am J ClinNutr, 57, 566-572, 1993.
[44] Uyanik F, Eren M, Tuncoku G: Effect of supplemental Zn on growth,
serum glucose, cholesterol, enzymes and minerals in broilers. Pakistan J
BiolSci, 6, 745-747, 2001.