Effect of Xylanase and Phytase Supplementation on Goat's Performance in Early Lactation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Supplementing diets of dairy animals with phytase and xylanase can enhance phosphorus availability and fiber degradation in the rumen and positively affect animal's health and productivity. In vitro and in vivo trials have been conducted to define the optimal addition level of xylanase and phytase to lactating Baldi goat's rations and investigate effects of these enzymes on animal's nutrients digestibility, blood chemistry, milk production and milk composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vitro batch culture technique was used to evaluate the effect of phytase and xylanase supplementation at different levels (0, 1, 2 and 3 g kg-1 DM) on rumen fermentation characteristics. Eighteen early lactating Baldi goats were randomly assigned into three groups and fed 4% dry matter according to their body weight. The first group was fed control ration (35% yellow corn, 20% corn stalks, 20% berseem hay, 12.5% soybean meal and 12.5% wheat bran), the second group fed control ration+Penizyme at 2 g kg-1 DM (R1), while the third group fed control ration+Phtase-Plus® at 1 g kg-1 DM (R2). RESULTS: Xylanase and phytase supplementation increased the in vitro DM and OM degradability and ruminal NH3-N and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) concentrations, with no effect on total gas production (TGP) volume. All nutrients digestibility (except CP), blood serum glucose concentration, milk production and milk components yields were increased for enzymes supplemented goats than control. CONCLUSION: Inclusion of xylanase and phytase in lactating goat's rations improved their productive performance with no deleterious effects on their health.

The efficacy of quantum phytase in a forty-week production trial using white leghorn laying hens fed corn-soybean meal-based diets.

Microbial phytase is a prominent feed enzyme used in animal feeds, but there is relatively little information on its use in laying hen diets. In this experiment, an Escherichia coli 6-phytase (Quantum) was evaluated for its efficacy in a 40-wk laying hen production trial. A total of 1,080 White Leghorn hens (540 each of Shaver and Bovan strains) were fed mash corn-soybean meal-based diets containing 0.35% (positive control, PC), 0.25% (negative control, NC1), or 0.15% (NC2) nonphytate phosphorus (NPP). Six more diets were manufactured by supplementing the negative control diets with 200, 400, and 600 U/kg of exogenous phytase, resulting in a total of 9 treatments. Each dietary treatment x strain subclass was replicated 4 times with 5 adjoining cages per replicate (3 hens per cage) in a randomized complete block design. Production performance was measured from 21 to 61 wk of age. Only minor differences in production characteristics were found between the PC and NC1 treatments regardless of phytase addition, indicating that 0.25% NPP resulted in P intake that was at or above the hen's requirement. In contrast, the hens fed 0.15% NPP diet without phytase supplementation had significantly (P < 0.05) reduced total hen housed egg production and body weight at 61 wk of age in comparison to the PC treatment, whereas the incidence of soft-shelled, cracked, and broken eggs was increased significantly (P < 0.05) in hens fed the NC2 diet. Addition of phytase to the NC2 diet improved these production characteristics to levels equal or better than the PC diet. The results indicated that Quantum phytase was efficacious in corn-soybean meal-based diets fed to White Leghorn laying hens and can be used to reduce diet supplementation with inorganic phosphorus.

Escherichia coli phytase improves growth performance of starter, grower, and finisher pigs fed phosphorus-deficient diets.

Corn-soybean meal-based diets, consisting of a high-P control (HPC) containing supplemental dicalcium phosphate (DCP), a basal diet containing no DCP, and the basal diet plus Escherichia coli phytase at 500 or 1,000 phytase units per kilogram (FTU/kg; as-fed basis) were fed to evaluate growth performance in starter, grower, and finisher pigs. Pigs were blocked by weight and gender, such that average weight across treatments was similar, with equal numbers of barrows and gilts receiving each treatment in each block. In Exp. 1, 48 pigs with an average initial BW of 11 kg, housed individually, with 12 pens per diet, were used to evaluate growth performance over 3 wk. Overall ADG and G:F were increased linearly (P < 0.05) by dietary phytase addition. Final BW and plasma P concentrations at 3 wk also increased linearly (P < 0.05). In Exp. 2, 128 pigs with an average initial BW of 23 kg, housed four pigs per pen, with eight pens per diet, were used to evaluate growth performance over 6 wk. A linear increase in response to phytase was noted for ADG and G:F in all three 2-wk periods, as well as overall (P < 0.05). Percentage of bone ash also showed a linear increase (P < 0.01). In Exp. 3, 160 pigs (53 kg), housed five pigs per pen, with eight pens per diet, were used to evaluate growth performance over 6 wk. A linear increase was detected for final BW, as well as ADG and G:F in the first and second 2-wk periods, and overall (P < 0.01). Twenty-four 15-kg individually housed pigs were used to evaluate total-tract nutrient digestibility in Exp. 4. Daily absorption of P linearly increased (P < 0.05) with phytase supplementation. Results of this research indicate that E. coli phytase is effective in liberating phytate P for uptake and utilization by starter, grower, and finisher pigs.