One hundred and eighty Isa Brown laying hens at 60 weeks of age were arranged in a completely randomized design in a 2 õ 2 factorial scheme, with two levels of phytase (0 and 500 ftu/kg ration) and two levels of sunflower meal (4 and 8%) totalizing five diets, evaluated with six replicates with six birds. Diets were formulated from a control ration based on corn and soybean meal free from phytase and sunflower meal, valuing the nutritional phytase matrix in diets formulation. The experimental period was divided in four 28-day cycles. The nutritional matrix suggested for phytase completely met the requirement by hens, even when diets were formulated with reduced nutritional levels when the nutrients present in the enzyme nutritional matrix were not considered accordingly to recommendations by the manufacturer. Addition of phytase in the diet reduces excretion of phosphorus by the birds and it improves the economical parameters. Inclusion of sunflower meal at 8% level negatively affects egg production, but it does not affect the other performance parameters and egg quality.
additive; alternative foods; economical analysis
