Phytase animal feed

Phytic acid (inisitol hexakisphosphate) is the main storage form of phosphorus in plants. The phosphorus is not bioavailable to non-ruminants as they lack the enzymes to break it down. Novozyme has developed a commercial enzyme, phytase, that can be added to animal feed to release the phosphorus. No inorganic phosphorus needs to be added. This shift in the source of phosphorous has a large impact on the environmental footprint of pig farming. 

Several microbial species (in particular fungi) produce phytases (EC 3.1.3.8). The incorporation of suitable, microbially derived phytases in the diet can confer the ability to digest phytic acid on the recipient animals. This would have a threefold beneficial effect the anti-nutritional properties of phytic acid would be destroyed a lesser requirement for feed supplementation with inorganic phosphorous wottld exist and reduced phosphate levels would be present in the faeces. Several trials have confirmed that the inclusion of phytase in animal feed promotes at least some of these effects. However, the enzyme is not yet used in many cormtries. This may be explained, in part, by the fact that most microbial species only produce low levels of phytase activity which, obviously, has an effect on the cost of the finished product. It seems likely that widespread utilization of phytase within the industry will only be made possible by the production of this enzyme from recombinant sottrces, and at least two major enzyme companies are marketing such an enzyme for a nttmber of years now. 

Unstabilized bran and polish have been used almost exclusively for animal feed, due to the bitter flavor that develops from the lipolytic action of enzymes on the oil found in them. However, development of a thermal process that inactivates the lipases has resulted in a stabilized rice bran product that is suitable for the food industry. The impressive nutritional qualities of the oil, fiber, carbohydrate and proteins of rice bran have made it a valuable food material. Removal of fiber from the bran by physical K,J7or enzymic1819 processes produces a milk-like product having desirable nutritional and functional properties. The nutritional composition of the rice bran milk product described by California Natural Products has been shown to match the nutritional requirements of an infant formula. Originally, the anti-nutritional factor of the residual phytates was of concern. However, as of 2005, phytase enzymes are suitable for use to break down these phytates. 

Phytase Aspergillus sp Mashing Releasing of phosphate from phytic acid in animal feed... 

Vohra A, Satyanarayana T (2003) Phytases microbial sources, production, purification and potential biotechnological applications. Critic Rev Biotechnol 23(l) 29-60 Walsh GA, Powerr RE, Headon DR (1993) Enzymes in the animal-feed industry. TIBTECH 11 424 30... 

Xylanase is also used in animal feeds, along with several other enzymes to enhance digestibility and maximize nutritional and caloric yield, including man-nanase, alpha-galactosidase, and phytase. Phytase releases absorbable inorganic phosphate from phytic acid, one of the main storage forms of phosphorus in... 

After downstream processing, liquid forms of product, especially enzymes, may not satisfy product quality requirements of biorefinery application or long-term storage. The purpose of formulation is to develop commercially viable products that meet safety, stability, and performance requirements. For instance, robust stable formulations are required in animal feed applications to protect enzymes such as phytase from elevated temperature and moisture during in-feed pelleting processes. 

Animal feed industry Phytase Release of phosphate... 

Phytase offers significant promise as a means to reduce phosphorus levels in animal waste by 30-35%, while also reducing the cost of phosphorus supplementation. The enzyme hydrolyzes phytate (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate), the primary storage form of phosphorus in plant seeds and pollen, in several steps into inositol and inorganic phosphorus, which is readily bioavailable to the farm animals. Phytases can also have non-specific phosphorus monoester activity. Addition of phytases to farm animals diets significantly enhances bioavailability of plant phosphorus for the animals while reducing phosphorus in the waste and simultaneously allowing a reduction of total phosphoms in the feed 500 units of phytase... 

Soybean meal is generally low in minerals and vitamins (except choline and folic acid). About two-thirds of the P in soybeans is bound as phytate and is mostly unavailable to animals. This compound also chelates mineral elements including Ca, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc, rendering them unavailable to poultry. Therefore, it is important that diets based on soybean meal contain adequate amounts of these trace minerals. Another approach to the phytate problem is to add phytase, a phytic acid degrading enzyme, to the feed to release phytin-bound P. A benefit of this approach is that less P needs to be added to the diet, reducing excess P loading into the environment. 

The availability of plant phosphorus was long considered to be 30%, but numerous studies have shown this parameter to be highly variable, as it depends on endogenous phytase activity, on the proportion of phytate phosphorus in the feed materials and on the technological processes undergone by the feeds. The availability corresponds to the percentage of phosphorus utilised by the animal in comparison to a source of available phosphorus, usually monocalcium phosphate. 

Phytase from fungi has been shown to be extremely compatible with the low pH conditions of the animal gastric tract (Jongbloed et al. 1992), but also phytases from bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, are being developed for use as a feed additive (Kerovuo et al. 2000 Park et al. 1999 Kerovuo and Tynkkynen 2000). 

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