Phytase Review Article

Feedstuffs magazine published the first part of a two part review on the use of phytase to improve phosphorus availability of livestock/poultry feeds and the resulting benefits of being able to more precisely formulate feeds to meet phosphorus requirements. The article provides a wealth of literature citations on the mechanism of phytase activity on phytic phosphorus, protein/amino acids and metabolizes energy. He indicates that several studies have shown that phosphorus availability can be improved 20-40 percent with phytase; the increase depends on the ration and phosphorus requirement levels. The article provides several references on the effects of phytase on the utilization of phytic phosphorus, proteins, amino acids, metabolizable energy, minerals and other compounds found in feeds. Phytic phosphorus’s antinutritional effects are discussed and how the dephosphorylation of the phytate molecule prevents the complexing of nutrients and eliminates the antinutritional effects of phytate.

Ward, N.E. 2006. Phytase matrix values: Theoretical aspects. Feedstuffs, January 23.