The digestibility of dry matter (DMD), and of crude protein (CPD), the apparent retention of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) and apparent metabolizable energy corrected by nitrogen balance (AME) of diets supplemented with high levels of phytase (FTU) for broilers, 35 days old were evaluated. A total of 1848 chicks were distributed in a completely randomized experiment with seven treatments and eight repetitions. The treatments were: T1: control diet, T2: inclusion of 1,500FTU/kg; T3: 3,000FTU/kg; T4: 4,500FTU/kg; T5: 6,000FTU/kg; T6:8,000FTU/kg; and T7: 10,000FTU/kg feed. On the 10th and 28th days of the experiment, four and three birds, respectively, were transferred to metabolism cages. An addition of 4,500FTU/kg from 1 to 35 days resulted in a performance similar to the control group (P>0.05). There was no difference (P>0.05) among treatments for DMD and AME, however, during the initial phase there was a higher use of MS with high levels of phytase (P<0.05). Regarding the retention of Ca and P, a positive effect of enzyme supplementation significantly increased the use of these minerals by birds. It is possible that high levels of supplemental phytase adequate valuing the nutrients.
broiler; phytate; performance; metabolism; nutrition reducion
