Phytase and xylanase in diets with nutritional adjustments and their effects on serum biochemistry, morphometry and intestinal health of broilers

Abstract To examine the association between phytase and xylanase in diets with nutritional adjustments on intestinal morphometry, serum biochemistry and microbiology of broilers, 250 broilers were evaluated in a completely randomized design with five treatments and five replicates. The following treatments were tested: positive control diet - without phytase or xylanase; negative control diet - with an energy reduction of 100 kcal/kg, without phytase or xylanase; and three diets containing xylanase and phytase and energy reductions of 50, 100 and 150 Kcal/kg. For all energy-reduced diets, the nutritional matrix of phytase with phosphorus (0.15%), calcium (0.165%) and sodium (0.035%) was considered. An effect of the association between enzyme inclusion and metabolizable energy reduction in the diets was observed only by contrast analysis, for villus height. Intestinal health was not changed. Only the serum phosphorus concentration was altered by the treatments at the different evaluated ages. The association of phytase (500 FTU/kg) with xylanase (16000 BXU/kg) in diets with reductions of up to 150 Kcal/kg metabolizable energy, 0.15% digestible P, 0.165% Ca and 0.035% Na does not alter the intestinal morphometry, serum biochemistry or microbiology of broilers.