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MUSILOVÁ ANNA, LICHOVNÍKOVÁ MARTINA, HAMPEL DAVID, PRZYWAROVÁ ALENA: The eff ect of the season on incidence of footpad dermatitis and its eff ect on broilers performance. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 2013, LXI, No. 6, pp. 1793-1798 The aim of the study was to evaluate the eff ect of the season on incidence of footpad dermatitis and to determine the eff ect of footpad dermatitis on broilers performance expressed by EPEF (European Production Effi ciency Factor). The incidence of footpad dermatitis was evaluated during the year. Daily mortality, weights and feed consumption were observed too. Scoring of the feet was done in slaughterhouse according to six-point scale (0-5) Ask (2010). There were classifi ed between 1200 to 1500 shanks from each fl ock. To facilitate the evaluation of the feet damage the numbers in scoring groups were summarized as follows: negligible damage (0+1), intermediate damage (2+3) and severe damage (4+5). The highest incidence of negligible damage was found in the summer (34.0%, P < 0.05) followed by autumn (13.1%). The most severe damage of the feet was found in the spring (83.2%) followed by winter (72.4%). Only 12% of the feet were negligibly damaged. Almost 70% of the feet were severe damaged. The signifi cant correlation between the feet damage and EPEF was not confi rmed (P > 0.05). The study showed that footpad dermatitis is a severe problem. However chickens with severe feet damage were able to achieve excellent performance results.welfare, broiler, footpad dermatitis, feet, season

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different levels of exogenous phytase on egg quality in laying hens fed diets with low levels of only plant original phosphorus. Twenty four Lohmann Brown hens at 31 weeks of age were housed in individual cages. In total three experiments were successively carried out with the same laying hens. In all three experiments the same diet with the same content of nutrients were always used. The control diet contained no exogenous phytase. Experimental diets differed in the level and sources of exogenous phytase. Eggs were collected daily during period of the experiment to measure egg quality. Measurement of physical parameters such as egg weight and strength of eggshell were performed daily. Shell weight and shell thickness were determined after washing and drying of shells. The shell thickness was evaluated using the micrometer. Shell proportion was calculated. The addition of phytase (150, 200, 250 and 300 FTU per kg diet) did not affect egg weight. Addition of exogenous phytase at levels 150, 200 and 250 FTU per kg had no significant effect (P >0.05) on eggshell quality. Only addition of both phytases (Natuphos and Optiphos) at the level 300 FTU to the same diet had positive effect on eggshell quality (P <0.05).