Currently, as a new type of environmentally friendly feed additive for livestock and poultry, phytase has received great attention and been widely used in the aquaculture industry due to its functions of counteracting anti-nutritional effects and enabling efficient feed utilization. So, how exactly does phytase maintain consistent poultry performance? This article will reveal the answer.
Improving Phosphorus Utilization
The endogenous phytase activity in the gastrointestinal tract of livestock and poultry is inherently low, limiting their ability to hydrolyze phytate and utilize phosphorus from feed ingredients. Consequently, expensive inorganic phosphate supplements are often required, which not only increases feed costs but also exacerbates phosphorus pollution. The supplementation of phytase in animal diets ensures maximal bioavailability of phosphorus from feedstuffs, thereby reducing feed expenses and effectively mitigating environmental phosphorus contamination.
Plant-Sourced Chymosin
Phytase can gradually decompose phytic acid (inositol hexaphosphate, referred to as IP6) into IP5, IP4, IP3, IP2, and finally IP1. Research indicates that both phytate and its partial hydrolysis products (IP5–IP2) exhibit anti-nutritional properties. Thus, a more complete dephosphorylation of phytate reduces the presence of these anti-nutritional compounds in the diet, yielding greater benefits for animal health. Superdosing phytase in feed formulations prevents the accumulation of lower inositol phosphates in the intestinal tract, minimizes anti-nutrient effects, and enhances the consistency of livestock and poultry production performance.
Microbial-Sourced Chymosin
Dietary phytase supplementation not only liberates inositol but also improves its absorptive capacity in the gut. Studies demonstrate a significant increase in blood inositol concentration in animals fed phytase-supplemented diets. Inositol, a cyclic sugar alcohol structurally analogous to glucose, exhibits insulin-mimetic properties. It enhances insulin sensitivity, facilitates cellular glucose uptake, improves energy metabolism efficiency, and promotes protein synthesis, collectively contributing to optimized growth performance in livestock and poultry.
There are various types of phytase on the market. Most ordinary phytases have poor high-temperature resistance. In contrast, Wuhan Healthdream High-Temperature Phytase can maintain effective activity in high-temperature environments and maximize the decomposition of phytate in the diet. Selecting a superior-quality phytase thus enables optimal animal productivity and maximizes farm profitability.