Phytase Supplementation of Sow Diets

German research studied whether supplemental phytase additions to a diet for gestating and lactating sows had any effect on performance and bone parameters. Forty gilts were assigned to four groups fed diets with various phosphorus and phytate (750 FTU/kg diet) treatments. Mean phosphorus concentrations in serum decreased during gestation and lactation for all treatments with no treatment differences between groups. The apparent digestibility of phosphorus increased during gestation in the sows fed the lowest level of phosphorus with phytase supplementation. They found that increasing phosphorus in the diet and supplementing with phytase to the diet induced a slightly higher ash content of the bones. The researchers concluded that supplementing with phytase could be used to lower the phosphorus content of the gestation-lactation diet without negative impact on bone health.

Liesegang, A., and co-workers. 2005. Influence of phytase added to a vegetarian diet on bone metabolism in pregnant and lactating sows. J. Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 89(3-6): 120-128.