THE EFFECT OF MICROBIAL PHYTASE ON IMPROVING DIGESTIBILITY OF NUTRIENTS AND PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS OF GROWING PIGS

Pengu Rezana, Delia Etleva

Abstract
   During the last decades various experiments have been conducted all over the world with commercially available microbial phytases. Supplementation of these enzymes into the diets of growing pigs results in improving of performance parameters and digestibility of nutrients. The aim of this study was to test the effects of the microbial phytase (NATUPHOS) on the performance parameters and digestibility of nutrients of growing pigs. The microbial phytase preparation (Aspergillus niger, NATUPHOS) was supplemented to a basal ration 750 FTU/kg feed and the effects on growth performance of growing pigs were studied for six weeks experimental period. The supplementation of microbial phytase improved slightly daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, increases the digestibility of nutrients and bioavailability of phosphorus from phytate, reduces the amount of inorganic phosphorus needed to maximize growth and bone mineralization and markedly reduces fecal excretion of phosphorus.

Key words: Growing pigs, Microbial phytase, Performance parameters, Digestibility of nutrients