More Phytase Studies

French researchers conducted mineral availability studies with young (28 day old) pigs with an average body weight of 9.3 kg. The factorial arrangement of treatments included three zinc treatments (a basal corn-soybean meal diet containing 32 mg zinc per kg, zinc-methionine complex and zinc sulfate supplemented at the rate of 20 mg zinc per kg) and 0 or 1200 units of a microbial phytase per kg diet. The replacement of ZnSO4 by the organic zinc source did not modify zinc retention, the concentration of zinc in bone, plasma or plasma alkaline phosphatase activity. Their data showed that phytase was more effective than supplemental zinc in modifying zinc bioavailability. Adding 1200 units of phytase increased plasma alkaline phosphatase (198%), plasma zinc concentration (269%), bone zinc (111%) and zinc retention (189%). Their data also showed that dietary phytase and zinc modified the utilization of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and copper by the young pig in this 19-day experiment. These studies indicate additional research on the interaction between zinc and phytase in corn-soybean meal diets is probably needed.

Revy, R. and co-workers. 2004. Effect of zinc supplementation as either an organic or inorganic source and of microbial phytate on zinc and other mineral utilization by weanling pigs. Animal Feed Sci. and Technology 116(1-2): 93-112.