Research on coated phytase benefits the pig industry

Cutting-edge “Thermo Protection Technology” which protects phytase from the adverse effects of high temperatures during feed conditioning and pelleting represents an exciting step forward for the pig feed industry, Dr Augustine Owusu-Asiedu told delegates to the 11th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association.

Presenting a paper entitled ‘Bone mineralization and phosphorus digestibility in weaned pigs fed diets containing thermostable phytase’, Dr Owusu-Asiedu, Danisco Animal Nutrition, outlined the results of a trial conducted by the University of Alberta, Canada to determine whether coating a new-generation bacteria-derived phytase to confer thermostability up to 90ºC had any detrimental effects on the efficacy of the phytase in the pig.

28 day old male weaned pigs were fed diets reduced in calcium and phosphorus, and containing either the uncoated or coated new-generation phytase. Liveweight gain, feed conversion ratio, phosphorus digestibility and bone mineralisation were then measured after three weeks.

No significant differences were found between pigs fed either the uncoated or the coated phytase, confirming that the coating allows phytase to be released effectively in the pig’s gut.

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