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The use of phytase in finishing pig diets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

M.E.E. McCann
Affiliation:
Agriculural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Large Park, Hillsborough, Co. Down BT26 6DR Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, The Queen’s University of Belfast Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX
K.J. McCracken
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, The Queen’s University of Belfast Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX
V.E. Beattie
Affiliation:
Devenish Nutrition Ltd., 96 Duncrue Street, Belfast BT39AR and
W. Henry
Affiliation:
Devenish Nutrition Ltd., 96 Duncrue Street, Belfast BT39AR and
S. Smyth
Affiliation:
John Thompsons and Sons Ltd., 35-38 York Road, Belfast, BT15 3GW, UK
R. Bradford
Affiliation:
John Thompsons and Sons Ltd., 35-38 York Road, Belfast, BT15 3GW, UK
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Extract

Phosphorus (P) is an essential mineral for pigs and deficiency can cause rickets, osteomalacia or osteoporosis and has been associated with poor fertility and production performance. Traditionally P has been supplied in the inorganic form as the organic form found in cereal grain (phytic acid) is unavailable to pigs as they lack endogenous phytase. Dietary phytases have been shown to play a major role in pig diets, releasing P from phytic acid thus decreasing the need for supplementary P and reducing P excretion (Harper et al 1997). Phytase supplementation has also been reported to improve digestibility of nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper (Jongbloed et al 1993). Some researchers (e.g. Jongbloed and Kemme 1990) suggest that diet processing may reduce enzyme activity and therefore liquid enzyme products have been developed which can be applied after processing. The aims of this study were to examine the effectiveness of several phytase products (including dry vs. liquid) in improving overall digestibility and reducing excretion of P and other nutrients.

Type
Poster Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2003

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References

Jongbloed, A.W. and Kemme, P.A. (1990). Effect of pelleting mixed feeds on phytase activity and apparent absorbability of phosphorus and calcium in pigs. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 28: 233244.Google Scholar
Harper, A.F., Kornegay, E.T. and Schell, T.C. (1997). Phytase supplementation of low-phosphorus growing-finishing pig diets improves performance, phosphorus digestibility and bone mineralization and reduces phosphorus excretion. Journal of Animal Science, 75: 31743186.Google Scholar
Jongbloed, A.W., Kemme, P.A. and Mroz, Z. (1993). The role of microbial phytases in pig production. Proceedings of Symposium on Enzymes in Animal Nutrition, Switzerland, pp 173180.Google Scholar