Effects of Rice Bran and Phytase Supplementation on Egg Laying Performance and Egg Quality of Laying Hens

Rice bran (RB) is a major by-product from the rice milling process. It contains high amounts of phytate and non-starch polysaccharides, which are considered to be two major antinutritional factors that limit the use of RB in poultry diets. This laying trial was conducted in which 150 Lohmann Brown laying hens were fed diets based on maize or rice bran to evaluate the effects of RB inclusion level and commercial microbial phytase Natuphos®5000 on their performance and egg quality. Five replicate groups of 18 weekold hens were assigned to six dietary treatments comprised of a control maize-soybean meal (MS) diet (Diet 1) and three diets, Diets 2, 3 and 4 with three levels of RB, 15, 25 and 35% respectively. In addition, Diet 4 was also supplemented with 1050 (Diet 5) and 1400 I.U/kg diet (Diet 6) of phytase enzyme (Natuphos®5000, BASF). Body weight (BW), feed consumption, feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg production and egg characteristics which includes egg weight, shell thickness, albumen height and yolk colour were measured in this study. At the end of the experiment (week 53), all five birds in each replicate were slaughtered and ileal content was harvested for amino acid (AA) and mineral analysis. In this study, using up to 35% RB in the diets was not detrimental to laying hens. Although feed consumption of the hens was similar among the treatments, supplemental of phytase significantly increased overall egg production. Phytase also improved shell thickness, body weight, feed conversion ratio and egg weight, but statistically it is non significant. Results of this study showed that percentage phosphorus in the excreta decreased and phosphorus (P) retention increased in birds fed 35% RB diets supplemented with phytase. From the improvement of P availability for birds, supplemental phytase enzyme reduces the need for conventional phosphate supplements and alleviates P pollution of the environment. In conclusion the utilization of RB at a dietary level up to 35% is beneficial to the laying hens industry in Malaysia. In addition, since the price of RB was cheaper than other major ingredients, dietary inclusion of 35% full-fatted rice bran (FFRB) lowered feed cost per egg produce by laying hens.

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