AB Vista to present new research data at Australian Poultry Science Symposium
Dr Mike Bedford, AB Vista's research director, will be presenting two new sets of research data during the 26th Australian Poultry Science Symposium (APSS), held at the University of Sydney on February 8-11, 2015.
The first highlights the additional beneficial effects of phytase superdosing, whilst the second explores the impact of trial methodology on the determination of standard ileal digestibility (SID) values for amino acids (AA).
The trial results, to be presented by Dr Bedford as part of Session C on the afternoon of February 10, demonstrate the potential for superdosing to improve litter quality and foot pad lesion score in addition to the proven gains in broiler growth and feed conversion ratio (FCR), either in the presence or absence of a xylanase.
"The trial compared both standard (500 FTU/kg) and superdosing (1500 FTU/kg) levels of Quantum Blue phytase, coupled with Econase XT xylanase addition at either 0 or 16,000 BXU/kg," Dr Bedford explains.
"Not only did the superdosing improve broiler performance, but the water:feed intake ratio tended to be lower, with subsequent gains in litter quality and foot pad score."
Dr Bedford will also present a paper on the same day, comparing AA SID values generated using either semi-synthetic or wheat-based broiler diets supplemented with Econase XT xylanase.
The results showed that the semi-synthetic diet produced significantly lower SID values for a range of AA, and suggested that other nutrients, such as phosphorus and calcium, might be similarly affected.
"These results have potentially far-reaching implications for the currently accepted SID values for all key nutrients," states Dr Bedford.
"If replicated, then these results suggest that data derived from trials using cereal-based diets is more relevant to the commercial situation, and that caution is needed when interpreting results generated using semi-synthetic diets."
A key theme at this year's APSS will be emerging technologies in poultry research, and phytase superdosing, defined as the use of high doses of phytase to eliminate the anti-nutrient effects of phytate.
The latter has grown rapidly since its introduction during 2012.
