P can be a problem both for animal production and the environment.
AAES researchers are finding ways for poultry to better utilize P, thus increasing productive efficiency and protecting the environment. These operations generate 20 million tons of manure annually, which must be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner. Generally the waste is applied to the land as a fertilizer. Phosphorus is an essential element for the growth and survival of poultry. Phytate P is not absorbed by the birds' bodies due to the absence of the enzyme phytase in their intestines.