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Title: WHAT CONTROLS WATER SOLUBLE PHOSPHORUS IN BROILER LITTER: AVAILABLE PHOSPHORUS, PHYTASE OR CALCIUM?

Author
item LEYTEM, APRIL - NC STATE UNIVERSITY
item PLUMSTEAD, PETER - NC STATE UNIVERSITY
item MAGUIRE, RORY - NC STATE UNIVERSITY
item Kwanyuen, Prachuab
item BRAKE, JOHN - NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/20/2006
Publication Date: 11/16/2006
Citation: Leytem, A., Plumstead, P., Maguire, R., Kwanyuen, P., Brake, J. 2006. What controls water soluble phosphorus in broiler litter: available phosphorus, phytase or calcium?. American Society of Agronomy Meetings.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soluble phosphorus (P) in litter and manure is important from an environmental perspective as it is related to potential off site P losses following land application. The effects of amending dietary P, calcium (Ca), and phytase on manure and litter P excretion in broilers were investigated. A 3 x 3 x 2 factorial treatment structure was applied from 14 to 42 d of age with three levels of available P (AvP) (0.35%, 0.30%, and 0.25%) combined with three levels of Ca (0.80%, 0.69%, and 0.57%) with two levels of phytase (0 and 600 FTU) applied. The AvP level of phytase amended diets was held constant by replacing 0.10% of the inorganic P from dicalcium phosphate with 600 FTU of phytase, while Ca and AvP levels of diets were varied by altering proportions of limestone, dicalcium phosphate, and an inert filler. To assess treatment effects on P excretion, fresh litter and manure were collected when the broilers were 39 and 41 d of age, respectively. Litter and manure were analyzed for total and soluble P. Results indicated that the inclusion of phytase at the expense of inorganic P, or reductions in AvP decreased total P excretion. Soluble P in the litter and manure decreased with dietary AvP at a constant Ca level. Manure soluble P decreased with phytase addition what about litter soluble P?. The ratio of Ca:AvP in the diets was negatively correlated with the solubility of P in both litter and manure. The ratio of litter and manure soluble P:total P increased with phytase additions at all ratios of Ca:AvP. This study indicates that while feeding reduced AvP diets with phytase decreased litter total P, the ratio of Ca:AvP in the diet was primarily responsible for effects on soluble P.