Nutritional evaluation of two sorghum varieties in broiler fortified with phytase

Abstract

Poultry industry is largely based on cereals for energy component in poultry ration. However, certain antinutritional factors hamper the bioavailability of nutrients and need to be addressed to avoid compromised birds’ performance. The present study assessed the impact of phytase on enhancing the nutrient retention and phosphorus utilization in two different sorghum cultivars fed to broiler. In an open sided house, a total of 160, 14-days-old broilers were allotted to four dietary bioassay treatments and fed mash red and white sorghum grain with or without phytase enzyme (500 FTU/kg) for 12 days (including 4 days adaptation period). Standard lab protocols were adapted to measure proximate analysis, minerals and phytate content in grain and fecal samples. Sorghum cultivars were different in nutrient profile with red higher in protein content (11.41%). It was observed that phytase inclusion in grain increased the availability of all nutrients except crude lipids. Total tract nitrogen retention was increased by 3% in red sorghum compared to white. Minerals absorption was increased but differently in different cultivars with higher degradation of phytate in both red and white sorghum. Apparent metabolizable energy was significantly enhanced both in red and white sorghum by 5.9 and 4.5%, respectively. From these findings, it can be deduced that phytase is effective in improving the utilization of nutrients of sorghum by broilers at day-21 and also reduces the losses of nutrients into the litter.