Effect of graded doses and a high dose of microbial phytase on the digestibility of various minerals in weaner pigs.

An experiment with 224 weaner pigs (initial BW of 7.8 kg) was conducted to determine the effect of dose of dietary phytase supplementation on apparent fecal digestibility of minerals (P, Ca, Mg, Na, K, and Cu) and on performance. Four blocks, each with 8 pens of 7 pigs, were formed. Eight dietary treatments were applied to each block in the 43-d experiment: supplementation of 0 (basal diet), 100, 250, 500, 750, 1,500, or 15,000 phytase units (FTU) or of 1.5 g of digestible P (dP; monocalcium phosphate; positive control) per kilogram of feed. The basal diet, with corn, barley, soybean meal, and sunflower seed meal as the main components, contained 1.2 g of dP per kilogram of feed. Fresh fecal grab samples were collected in wk 4 and 5 of the experiment. Average daily feed intake, ADG, G:F, and digestibility of all of the minerals increased (P < 0.001) with increasing phytase dose. Digestibility of P increased from 34% in the basal diet to a maximum of 84% in the diet supplemented with 15,000 FTU, generating 1.76 g of dP per kilogram of feed. At this level, 85% of the phytate phosphorus was digested, compared with 15% in the basal diet. Compared with the basal diet, digestibility of the monovalent minerals increased maximally at 15,000 FTU, from 81 to 92% (Na) and from 76 to 86% (K). In conclusion, phytase supplementation up to a level of 15,000 FTU/kg of a dP-deficient diet improved performance of weaner pigs and digestibility of minerals, including monovalent minerals. Up to 85% of the phytate-P was digested. Thus, dietary phytase supplementation beyond present day standards (500 FTU/kg) could further improve mineral use and consequently reduce mineral output to the environment.

The effects of calcium benzoate in diets with or without organic acids on dietary buffering capacity, apparent digestibility, retention of nutrients, and manure characteristics in swine.

Eight barrows (Yorkshire x [Finnish Landrace x Dutch Landrace]), initially 30 kg BW, were fitted with ileal cannulas to evaluate the effects of supplementing Ca benzoate (2.4%) and organic acids (OA) in the amount of 300 mEq acid/kg feed on dietary buffering capacity (BC), apparent digestibility and retention of nutrients, and manure characteristics. Swine were allotted in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments according to a cyclic (8 x 5) changeover design. Two tapioca-corn-soybean meal-based diets were formulated without and with acidogenic Ca benzoate. Each diet was fed in combination with OA (none, formic, fumaric, or n-butyric acid). Daily rations were equal to 2.8 x maintenance requirement (418 kJ ME/BW(.75)) and were given in two portions. Chromic oxide (.25 g/kg) was used as a marker. On average, Ca benzoate lowered BC by 54 mEq/kg feed. This salt enhanced (P < .05) the ileal digestibility (ID) of DM, OM, arginine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, alanine, aspartic acid, and tyrosine (by up to 2.4 percentage units). Also, the total tract digestibility (TD) of DM, ash, Ca and GE, and Ca retention (percentage of intake) was greater (P < .05) in swine fed Ca benzoate, whereas N retention remained unaffected. Addition of all OA (formic and n-butyric acid, in particular) exerted a positive effect (P < .05) on the ID of amino acids (except for arginine, methionine, and cysteine). A similar effect (P < .05) was found for the TD of DM, OM, CP, Ca and total P and for the retention of N and Ca. In swine fed Ca benzoate, urinary pH decreased by 1.6 units (P < .001). In conclusion, dietary OA have a beneficial effect on the apparent ileal/total tract nutrient digestibilities, and Ca benzoate increased urine acidity, which could be effective against a rapid ammonia emission from manure of swine.

Quantification of inositol phosphates using (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in animal nutrition.

A (31)P NMR method for quantitative determination of inositol phosphates in simple incubation samples of sodium phytate and Aspergillus niger phytase and in different types of complex samples, such as diets, digesta, and feces, is described. The inositol phosphates in complex samples were extracted with HCl, concentrated, and purified using freeze-drying and filtration and subsequently determined at pH 12.6 in aqueous solution using a (31)P NMR method. The (31)P NMR technique has as its main advantages over the HPLC techniques that it does not necessitate standards that may cause background matrix effects and that the spectra of inositol phosphates and orthophosphate appear in the same run without further sampling errors. The results of inositol hexaphosphate analysis with HPLC can be confirmed by this (31)P NMR method. Contents of inositol tetra-, tri-, di-, and monophosphate in the biological samples appear to be quantitatively not important. The (31)P NMR method can be applied for use in animal nutrition in general and studies of using phytase in diets for farm animals in particular, by measuring the content of inositol phosphates in feed ingredients, complete feeds, ileal contents, and feces of pigs and poultry.

The efficacy of Aspergillus niger phytase in rendering phytate phosphorus available for absorption in pigs is influenced by pig physiological status.

We performed an experiment with 112 piglets, 32 growing-finishing pigs, and 12 sows during pregnancy and lactation to test the hypotheses that apparent total tract digestibilities of P and Ca as well as the efficacy of Aspergillus niger phytase in rendering phytate P available in pigs depend on pig physiological status. All pigs were fed diets with identical feedstuff composition either without or with added microbial phytase (Natuphos, 500 FTU/kg diet). The diets contained 6.2 g Ca, 4.8 g total P, and 3.7 g phytate P per kilogram, and intrinsic phytase activity of 120 FTU/kg. The digestibility of P increased by 8.3 percentage units when BW of pigs increased from 30 to 60 kg and then remained stable until 100 kg. Pregnant sows had a lower efficiency of P absorption than piglets and growing-finishing pigs. During lactation, the efficiency of P absorption was 3.4 percentage units higher than during pregnancy but was still 6.6 percentage units lower than for growing-finishing pigs. The efficacy of the phytase in generating digestible P decreased in the order or lactating sows, growing-finishing pigs, sows at the end of pregnancy, piglets, and sows at midpregnancy; the average amounts of generated digestible P were 1.03, .83, .74, .66, and .32 g/kg diet, respectively. The addition of phytase to the diet raised apparent Ca digestibility in the piglets and growing-finishing pigs (by 4.6 and 4.0 percentage units, respectively) but not in the sows. We conclude that in the formulation of swine diets the amount of phytase to be added should be tailored to the target category.

Factors affecting phosphorus and calcium digestibility in diets for growing-finishing pigs.

In two experiments, we investigated various factors that affect the estimation of the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of DM, Ca, and total P in diets for growing-finishing pigs. In Exp. 1, the effects of age, housing, and calculation method (indicator [Cr2O3] vs 10-d total collection) were determined. Eighteen barrows and gilts (40 to 95 kg BW) were housed in six pens, and ATTD was estimated using the indicator method. Twelve barrows were housed in metabolic crates, and ATTD was estimated using both calculation methods. Dietary treatments were 1) a tapioca-soybean-barley-based diet, 2) Diet 1 supplemented with 400 FTU microbial phytase/kg of diet, and 3) a corn-soybean meal-based diet: In Exp. 2, six barrows (95 to 120 kg BW) were fed a phytase-deficient diet to investigate the effects of coprophagy (40 g fresh feces/kg of diet) and movement. Pigs were fed at 2.8 times maintenance requirement (418 kJ ME/BW.75); water supply was 2.5 L/kg of feed. The ATTD increased as BW increased. Phytase enhanced total P ATTD by an average of 18.1 percentage units. The ATTD of DM was higher and the ATTD of Ca and total P (P < .001) were lower in pigs housed in pens than in pigs housed in metabolic crates. Fecal consumption and movement led to numerical increases in Ca (P = .217) and total P (P = .103) ATTD. Estimates of Ca and total P ATTD using pigs in metabolic crates are lower than estimates in practice.

The effects of sow parity on digestibility of proximate components and minerals during lactation as influenced by diet and microbial phytase supplementation.

Ninety-six (Finnish Landrace x Dutch Landrace) reproductive sows were used at parities 1, 3, 5, and 7 + 8 from d 107 of gestation to d 21 of lactation to investigate the effects of diet and parity on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD). Animals were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments. Dietary treatments were 1) a P-deficient (1.1 g digestible P [dP]/kg) Dutch semipractical diet; 2) Diet 1 supplemented with 400 FTU Aspergillus niger phytase per kilogram of diet (1.7 g dP/kg); 3) a corn-soybean meal-based diet (1.3 g dP/kg); and 4) Diet 3 supplemented with extra monocalcium phosphate (MCP; 2.4 g dP/kg of diet). Animals were fed twice daily at 2.8 times maintenance (418 kJ ME/ BW75) from d 8 to the end of lactation. Feces and urine were collected during d 11 to 13 and d 18 to 20 of lactation. The ATTD of DM, OM, ash, CP, Ca, Mg, and total P (P < .01) were higher for the corn-soybean meal-based diets than for the Dutch semipractical diet not supplemented with phytase. Addition of MCP enhanced total P ATTD by an average of 6.7 percentage units. Addition of microbial phytase improved Ca, Mg, and total P ATTD, but the effects were dependent on the stage of lactation. Lower ATTD of OM and CP were seen for first parity animals compared with higher parity sows. The ATTD of Mg increased with increasing parity. Parity had little effect on the ATTD of minerals during lactation, and dietary effects were prominent and followed a similar trend to those seen in growing-finishing pigs.

Apparent digestibility and retention of nutrients bound to phytate complexes as influenced by microbial phytase and feeding regimen in pigs.

Five barrows of approximately 45 kg BW, fitted with post-valvular T-cecum cannulas at the ileo-cecal junction, were assigned randomly to five treatments (5 x 5 Latin square design) to assess the effect of microbial phytase and feeding regimen (frequency and level) on the apparent digestibilities (total tract [ATTD] and ileal [AID]) and retention of nutrients. A corn-tapioca-soybean meal diet of low intrinsic phytase activity, containing no added inorganic P, was fed either without or with microbial phytase from Aspergillus niger var. Van Tieghem (800 phytase units/kg of diet) at different feeding frequencies (once, twice, or seven times per day) and feeding levels (2.3 vs 2.8 times the maintenance requirement for ME, i.e., 418 kJ ME/BW.75). Microbial phytase enhanced significantly the ATTD of DM, OM, CP, Ca, total P, and amino acids (except for cystine and proline). Also, the AID of total P, phytic acid, methionine, and arginine was increased (P < .05 or .01). As a consequence of adding this enzyme, the retention (grams/day) of N, Ca, and P was greater (P < .01) and their daily excretion was diminished by 5.5, 2.2, and 1.9 g/d, respectively. The feeding level exerted a minor effect on the ATTD and AID (except for methionine and cystine), although the retention (grams/day) of N, Ca, and P was greater (P < .01) at the higher level of feeding. The feeding frequency influenced significantly the ATTD of Ca, tryptophan, and isoleucine and the AID of phytic acid, cystine, arginine, isoleucine, and phenylalanine. Also, N retention (grams/day) was reduced in pigs fed once daily (P < .01).

The effect of supplementary Aspergillus niger phytase in diets for pigs on concentration and apparent digestibility of dry matter, total phosphorus, and phytic acid in different sections of the alimentary tract.

Six barrows of approximately 37 kg BW, fitted with two simple T-cannulas in the duodenum (25 cm posterior to the pylorus) and terminal ileum (12 to 15 cm anterior to the ileocecal junction), were fed two diets containing 2.1 g of P/kg in the form of phytic acid and a low intrinsic phytase activity (corn-soybean meal based diet [Diet A] or a typical Dutch diet [Diet B]) without or with supplementary microbial phytase from Aspergillus niger (var. ficuum) equal to 1,500 phytase units per kilogram of diet, in a crossover design. The apparent duodenal, ileal, and total tract (overall) digestibilities of DM, total P, and phytate P (phytic acid x .282) were calculated using both Cr-NDR (neutral detergent residue mordanted with Cr) and Co-EDTA as dual-phase markers. Concentration of total P in the ileal digesta (P less than .01) and feces (P less than .001) of pigs fed microbial phytase was lower than without this enzyme, irrespective of the diet. Ileal digestibility of total P was 18.5 and 29.8 percentage units higher (which was a 1.7- to 2.9-fold increase) due to added Aspergillus niger phytase (P less than .05). Also, total tract (overall) digestibility increased by 27.0 to 29.7 percentage units (P less than .01). Phytic acid concentration in the duodenal and ileal digesta of pigs receiving microbial phytase was lower (P less than .01 or .001), resulting in its higher ileal digestibility (dephosphorylation rate) by 50.1 percentage units for Diet A and by 75.4 percentage units for Diet B. Irrespective of the treatment, no phytase activity could be detected in the ileal digesta of pigs.

Improvement of phosphorus availability by microbial phytase in broilers and pigs.

Techniques have been developed to produce microbial phytase for addition to diets for simple-stomached animals, with the aim to improve phosphorus availability from phytate-P in plant sources. The activity of the crude microbial phytase showed pH optima at pH 5.5 and 2.5. The enzyme was able to degrade phytate in vitro in soya-bean meal, maize and a liquid compound feed for pigs. When microbial phytase was added to low-P diets for broilers the availability of P increased to over 60% and the amount of P in the droppings decreased by 50%. The growth rate and feed conversion ratio on the low-P diets containing microbial phytase were comparable to or even better than those obtained on control diets. Addition of microbial phytase to diets for growing pigs increased the apparent absorbability of P by 24%. The amount of P in the faeces was 35% lower.