Home
News
Microbial phytase alters nutrient requirements
Microbial phytase is more widely accepted in poultry
diets to better utilise phosphorous nutrition.
Microbial phytase will increasingly contribute to ecological sustainable
poultry production, according to Peter Sella and Velmurugu Ravindrab in their
review in
Animal Feed Science and Technology.
Effect on broilers
It appears that exogenous phytase hydrolyses less than 0.35 of dietary
phytate in broilers at the ileal level. If so, there is considerable scope to
enhance phytate degradation by introducing more effective phytate-degrading
enzymes or enzyme combinations.
The researchers argue that there is a distinct possibility that phytate
negatively influences protein and energy utilisation in poultry and, as these
influences would be ameliorated by phytase, there are substantial, practical
implications.
No consensus
Nevertheless, there is still no consensus as to the extent that phytase
enhances protein and energy utilisation. Responses in amino acid digestibilities
following phytase supplementation are variable and the underlying mechanisms
have not been completely understood.
The impact of phytase on protein and energy utilisation may be more
positive than generally realised, but this should become increasingly evident if
greater phytate degradation rates can be achieved.
Editor WorldPoultry
To comment, login here
Or register to be able to comment.