A 21-day experiment with day-old broilers was conducted in order to assess the effect of phytase supplementation to different cereals-soybean meal based diets on nitrogen, calcium, total and phytate phosphorus excretion and retention. Diets were formulated to contain 4 different cereals (maize, wheat, triticale and barley), 2 levels of dietary calcium (0.6 and 1.0%) and 3 levels of supplemental phytase (0, 500 and 1 000 PU/kg). Nutrient intake, excretion and retention were determined in the first three days of the 2nd and 3rd week of trial. The increasing phytase level resulted in reducing phytate phosphorus excretion and increasing its retention. Significant differences were obtained only in the 2nd week (excretion P < 0.024 and retention P < 0.044). Phytase supplementation significantly influenced total phosphorus excretion in the 3rd week (P < 0.048) and retention in the 2nd week (P < 0.015). The effects of 500 and 1 000 PU/kg were not statistically different from each other. No significant influence of phytase supplementation on nitrogen and calcium excretion and retention was observed.

A 21-day experiment with day-old broilers was conducted in order to assess the effect of phytase supplementation to different cereals-soybean meal based diets on broiler performance and tibia ash. Diets were formulated to contain 4 different cereals (maize, wheat, triticale and barley), 2 levels of dietary calcium (0.6 and 1.0%) and 3 levels of supplemental phytase (0, 500 and 1 000 PU/kg). Supplemented phytase had beneficial effects on broiler performance. It significantly increased body weight gain (P < 0.0003) and feed consumption (P < 0.0361) by 6 and 7% in comparison with the control groups, respectively. No influence on feed conversion ratio and tibia ash was detected. Both body weight gain and feed intake were also significantly influenced by different cereals (P < 0.0001 and 0.0348, respectively). The increasing dietary calcium level resulted in a significant increase in body weight gain (P < 0.0024) and tibia ash (P < 0.0016). Effects of 500 and 1 000 PU/kg were not statistically different between themselves.

A 21-day experiment with day-old broilers was conducted in order to assess the effect of phytase supplementation to cereal-soybean meal based diets on the mineral content in tibia (Ca, P, Fe, Mg, Cd, Zn). Diets were formulated to contain 4 different cereals (maize, wheat, triticale and barley), 2 levels of dietary calcium (0.6 and 1.0%) and 3 levels of supplemental phytase (0, 500 and 1 000 PU/kg). Supplemental phytase increased the mineral levels in tibia. A statistically significant increase was observed for Fe (P < 0.024) and Mg (P < 0.024), but not for Ca, P, Cd and Zn contents in tibia. In the case of Fe and Mg contents significant cereal × phytase interactions were also observed (P < 0.036 and 0.002, respectively). Cereals influenced the contents of Fe (P < 0.0001), Mg (P < 0.0001), Cd (P < 0.0001) and Zn (P < 0.003) while dietary calcium levels affected only calcium content (P < 0.008).