Bone morphology and mineralization of broiler chicken as influenced by dietary phytase supplementation and partial replacement of soybean meal and dicalcium phosphate

Three separate trials were conducted wherein soybean meal (SBM) was replaced at 20% levels with either sunflower meal (SFM), safflower meal (SFFM) or til cake (TC) along with phytase supplementation and partial replacement (50%) of dicalcium phosphate (DCP) with limestone in growing broiler diets on their bone morphology and mineralization. Each trial was conducted on day old broiler chicks (n=240) divided randomly into five groups of 48 chicks. Each group was further divided into four replicates of 12 chicks each. The dietary treatments were: T₀- standard broiler basal diet (control); T₁-soybean meal (SBM) of control diet replaced at 20% level with either sunflower meal (SFM), safflower meal (SFFM) or til cake (TC); T₂- T₁+phytase supplementation; T₃- T₁+partial replacement (50%) of dicalcium phosphate (DCP) with limestone and T₄- T₃+phytase supplementation. The results revealed that irrespective of the replacement of SBM with either SFM, SFFM or TC, the tibial weight, density, strength, ash, calcium and phosphorus were found to be significantly (P<0.01) improved in phytase supplemented groups (T₂) than non phytase supplemented group (T₁). It can be concluded that phytase addition in the diet of commercial broiler chicken could allow the partial replacement of soybean meal and dicalcium phosphate with alternative feed resources without affecting bone growth, mineralization and strength.