The Effect of Organic Acid and Zeolite Addition Alone and in Combination on the Bone Mineral Value in Broiler Fed Different Dietary Phosphorus Levels

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the addition of Organic Acid (OA) and Zeolite (ZE) alone or combined to the diet with microbial phytase contained low (3.9 g kg(-1)) and adequate (7.0 g kg(-1)) levels of Phosphorus (P) on bone mineral concentration. In this study, 480 one-day old broiler chicks were used. Chicks were assigned equally to 8 groups for the study carried out 6 replicates during 42 days. Basal ration contained 600 phytase enzyme unit (FTU kg(-1)) was formulated separately for starter and grower period. On day 21, tibia ash rate (p<0.001) and ash P levels (p<0.03) decreased in chicks fed low P ration. Similarly, the addition of ZE also decreased tibia ash rate on day 21 (p<0.01). The use of OA+ZE increased the ash P level on day 42 (p<0.05). Depending on P level of ration, the level of P in tibia ash samples decreased only on day 21 (p<0.03). On day 42, tibia P level was decreased and increased by the addition of ZE and OA+ZE, respectively (p<0.05). The addition of OA+ZE increased the bone Zn level on day 21. Cu level of bone decreased (p<0.05) depending on the low P content of the diet. Also, tibia Mn level increased (p<0.05) depending on the increase in the P level of diet at the end of the experiment. P level of litter material increased depending on the additives (p<0.02) and the P level of the diet (p<0.01).