May 26 2010
SEVERAL keynote speakers gave their view on future developments in feed at the latest edition of the British Pig & Poultry Fair held earlier this month at Stoneleigh Park.
In a special workshop during the biannual show, Dr Mike Bedford, AB Vista, aimed to explain the use of the enzyme phytase and how it can help improve digestibility in an animal’s gut. He focused on the subject of phytic acid, also known as phytate – an ‘anti-nutrient’. This feed ingredient is a source of phosphorus (P), binds minerals and proteins and can strongly irritate the gut, he explained.
Degradation
For nutritionists and feed experts, degrading the phytic acid would be very useful for more than one purpose, he explained, as it would mean that more P would become available and it is thought that about protein digestibility is about reduced by 10% by non-digested phytic acid.
Animal performance will increase when adding low-phytase ingredients, he explained. Apart from additional P release, more minerals are released, Bedford said, leading to more magnesium in animal bones. In addition, since animals do not have to spend energy to destroying phytic acid, more energy is taken up.
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