Phytase improves phosphorus digestibility in lactating sows

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on August 4, 2016

Author: Z. Nasir, J. Broz, and R.T. Zijlstra

Reference: Western Hog Journal Summer 2015

Phosphorus is an important nutrient in swine nutrition. However, most phosphorus present in feedstuffs is in the form of phytate, which cannot be used. To breakdown phytate into a usable form, the enzyme phytase has to lyse phytate to produce a usable form of phosphorus. Swine do not produce sufficient phytase and as such much of the dietary phosphorus presented to swine is lost in feces. Thus swine diets must be supplemented with inorganic sources of phosphorus or phytase. This excreted phosphorus is both expensive and harmful to the environment, polluting sources of water.

This study examined the effects of feeding supplemental bacterial 6-phytase in lactating swine in terms of sow and piglet performance. 3 diets were prepared: one with adequate phosphorus and supplemented inorganic phosphorus, one with inadequate phosphorus without any supplementation, and one with inadequate phosphorus supplemented with phytase. Sows were weighed pre-farrowing, and also on day 1 and 15 post farrowing.

Sow and piglet performance was not affected by any of the three diets. However, the extra availability of expensive phosphorus decreased the cost of the phytase supplemented diet. This makes the addition of phytase an eligible solution to decrease the cost of feed and environmental footprint.

Phytase in lactating sows Nasir

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