Effect of vitamin d-3 and/or zeolite supplementation to laying hen rations added microbial phytase on performance and enterprise income

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of vitamin D-3 and/or zeolite supplementation in presence of phytase enzyme on performance and enterprise income in laying hens. A total of 120, 28-weeks-old laying hens were used for the study. The laying hens were separated to 4 equal groups (5 replicates). The treatment groups were as follows: control diet (300 FTU phytase per kg), trial 1 diet (300 FTU phytase + 400 IU vitamin D-3), trial 2 diet (300 FTU phytase + 400 IU vitamin D-3 + 2% zeolite) and trial 3 diet (300 FTU phytase + 2% zeolite). The experimental period was 16 week. Body weight and feed conversion ratio were not statistically different between groups. Egg production was significantly lower in the phytase and vitamin D, added group than in the phytase added group on days 29-56. Feed intake was lower in the phytase added group than in the phytase and zeolite added group on days 85-112 (p<0.05). On days 1 and 112, egg weight was significantly lower in the phytase added group than in the other groups. The control group had higher income than the other groups.