Influence of dietary phosphorus on performance of Hy-line W36 hens.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of nonphytate phosphorus (NPP) on hen performance in an environmentally controlled house. In Experiment 1, 21-wk-old Hy-Line W36 hens (n = 1,248) were randomly assigned to 13 dietary treatments (0.1 to 0.7% NPP, at graded increments of 0.05%) for 17 wk. In Experiment 2, 45-wk-old Hy-Line W36 hens (n = 960) were randomly allocated to eight diets in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments. Two levels of Ca (3 and 4%) and four levels of NPP (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4%) were fed for 8 wk. Feed consumption (FC), egg production (EP), egg weight (EW), egg specific gravity (ESG), bone density (BD), bone mineral content (BMC), bone breaking strength (BBS), BW and mortality were evaluated to determine performance. Results of Experiment 1 indicated that FC, EP, and BW increased as NPP was increased from 0.1 to 0.7% (77 to 588 mg/hen/d). During Week 12, a sharp decrease in FC and EP was observed in hens fed the most deficient level of 0.1% NPP. Egg weight and ESG decreased linearly (P < 0.05) as dietary NPP was increased from 0.1 to 0.7%. However, after 14 wk, ESG decreased (P < 0.05) in hens fed 0.1% NPP. Bone breaking strength was higher (P < 0.05) in hens fed 0.3 to 0.4% NPP, indicating maximum bone quality. Mortality was higher (P < 0.05) in hens fed 0.01% NPP, followed by hens fed 0.15% NPP. In Experiment 2, a pronounced adverse effect of P deficiency was observed on FC and EP within 2 wk compared with 12 wk in Experiment 1. Reduction of NPP to 0.1% reduced BD, BMC, BBS and increased hen mortality (P < 0.05). Reducing dietary Ca from 4 to 3% decreased ESG (P < 0.05). A wide variation in response time to P deficiency indicated that P requirement varied for different performance criteria with age.