Nutritional management in layer hens diets to reduce the enviromental impact of some minerals

• Grant number: 05/02564-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2005
• End date: November 30, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Otto Mack Junqueira
• Grantee: Otto Mack Junqueira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Four experiments will be held to evaluate, separately, the reduction of phosphorus, zinc, copper and manganese using three phytase levels (0, 500 and 1000 FTU/kg of diet) for laying hens. On each experiment, 384 chickens will be distributed at a completely random experimental design, using a factorial arrangement 4X3 (four levels of the studied mineral X three levels of the enzyme phytase) with four replications of the eight birds each. Feed intake, feed conversion, egg weight, egg laying percentage, shell percentage, shell thickness and egg specific gravity will be record in four periods, of the 28 days each. At the end of the experimental period will be evaluated the content of ashes, radiographic density and breaking strength of the tibias, and the content of phosphorus and zinc in the tibias, liver and excreta. (AU)