Effect of different level of rice polishing in combination with phytase and acidifier on performance and shell quality of layer chickens

Abstract

The  aim  of  the  experiment  was  to  examine  the  effect  of  increasing  level  of  rice polishing when a combination of additive (phytase and acidifier) was added on layer performance and eggshell  quality.   A  total  of  120  Isa  Brown  Laying  Hens  of  about  40  weeks  old  were  allocated randomly into 3 main treatments (levels of rice polishing 10, 20 and 30 %) and sub-treatments of with and without addition of 0.09 % phytase and 0.4 % acidifier. Each treatment was repeated 4 times with 5 birds each. All birds were placed in open house system and housed in individual cages for 8 weeks. The birds offered water ad libitum, while feed was given approximately 117 g/bird/d. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with nested type and significant differences among treatments  were  analysed  by  Duncan’s  Multiple Range  Test.  The  results  showed  that  layer performances were not significantly affected by additive addition nested to the rice polishing levels. Improvements  were  observed  in  favour  of  addition  of  phytase  and  acidifier  to  rice  polishing containing  diet.  Improvements  of  eggshell  quality might  be  explained  by  significantly  better  P deposition when 20 % of rice polishing was used. Nested effects of additive were in favour to the use of 30 % rice polishing.  It is suggested to use 30 % rice polishing with additive (0.09 % phytase and 0.4 % acidifier) to the layer diet.