Environmental aspects of the use of microbial phytase in the feed for pigs and poultry

Abstract

The influence of phytase supplementation in the feed on performance, nutrient digestibility and enzyme activity in the excreta was studied in experiments with growing pigs and laying hens. To a standard diet a commercial phytase was added according to the recommendations and in a ten-fold overdose. The experiments were performed with 15 growing pigs and 21 laying hens in individual pens and cages respectively. Although innate phytase activity in the pig diets was high phytase supplementation improved phosphorus digestibility. Performance and digestibility of energy and nitrogen were not affected significantly by the phytase supplementation. In laying hens phytase supplementation led only to a significant reduction of excreta dry matter content. In no case (pigs and poultry) a phytase activity could be detected in exreta.