Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2006, 51(10):437-443 | DOI: 10.17221/3962-CJAS

Effect of microbial phytase on apparent digestibility and retention of phosphorus and nitrogen in growing pigs

P. Patráš, S. Nitrayová, A. Sommer, J. Heger

Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic

Six female pigs of approximately 50 kg BW, fitted with simple T-cannula in the terminal ileum, were used to study the effect of microbial phytase on apparent total tract digestibility and retention of P and N. Three P-adequate diets (digestible P concentration 2.3 g/kg) containing barley (B), soybean meal (S) or their mixture (BS) with or without phytase supplement (1 000 FTU/kg) were fed to pigs using a 6 × 6 Latin square design. The addition of phytase increased (P < 0.05) apparent total P digestibility of diets S and BS from 56.5 and 57.2% to 69.0 and 65.2%, respectively, and apparent plant P digestibility of the same diets from 41.3 and 50.0% to 60.5 and 60.0%, respectively. An insignificant improvement in total and plant P digestibilities was found in diet B. Phytase supplementation reduced (P < 0.05) P excretion in pigs fed diets S and BS by 25 and 14%, respectively. As compared with diets S and BS, urinary P excretion in pigs fed diet B was much higher, which suggests a lower requirement for available P due to the lower protein deposition and growth rate. Phytase supplementation had no effect on digestibility or retention of N. In all three diets, total tract P digestibility was lower (P < 0.05) than ileal digestibility thus indicating a net flux of P into the large intestine.

Keywords: phytase; phosphorus; nitrogen; digestibility; retention; pigs

Published: October 31, 2006  Show citation