Phosphor-Äquivalenz von Aspergillus-niger-Phytase für Ferkel bei Fütterung einer Getreide-Soja-Diät

Comparative study on the chemical composition of different bones/parts of bones in growing pigs differently supplied with inorganic phosphorus and phytase

From the veterinarian point of view, the precise assessment of the phosphorus (P) supply of pigs is of great interest, especially in cases of clinical disorders like 'leg weakness' or lameness when bone mineralisation may be disturbed. Thus, the question arises which bone is most suitable for diagnostic purposes and is reflecting changes in dietary P supply most clearly. Thirty-six growing pigs (BHZP db.Viktoria x Piétrain, about eleven weeks old, mean bw: 28.3 ± 3.44 kg) were allotted to three groups differently supplied with P by receiving a diet either supplemented with inorganic P (iP) and phytase (500 FTU/kg; controls/group C), without iP but phytase added (500 FTU/kg; group 1) or containing only endogenous phytase (group 2). The inclusion of iP resulted in total P contents in diets for group C of 4.76 and 4.23 g/kg as fed from 28 to 57 and >57 kg body weight (bw), respectively. In diets for group 1 and 2, the corresponding P contents were 3.08/2.72 g/kg as fed (group 1) and 3.08/2.88 g/kg as fed (group 2). On days 26, 47 and 82 of the dietary treatment, four pigs of each group were euthanised. Furthermore, four additional pigs were euthanised one day before starting the experiment. Standardised samples of the femur (distal part), tibia/fibula (proximal part) and os metatarsale III (MT III, in toto) were taken during dissection and submitted to chemical analysis. At all time points, pigs of group C had significantly higher ash contents in all types of bone samples compared to pigs from group 1 and 2. Relative differences between means of groups (C = 100%) were less for the ash content in MT III (reduction by up to -9.1%) compared to the distal femur and the proximal tibia/fibula (reduction by up to -23.2 resp. -22.7%). Variation coefficient (irrespective of group and time point) was lower for ash content in MT III (4.29%) compared to the distal femur and the proximal tibia/fibula (both: 11.8%). Under the conditions of this study, ash contents of the distal femur and the proximal tibia/fibula reflected the different P supply more pronounced indicating higher sensitivity compared to MT III.

Phytase in non-ruminant animal nutrition: a critical review on phytase activities in the gastrointestinal tract and influencing factors

This review focuses on phytase functionality in the digestive tract of farmed non-ruminant animals and the factors influencing in vivo phytase enzyme activity. In pigs, feed phytase is mainly active in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine, and added phytase activity is not recovered in the ileum. In poultry, feed phytase activities are mainly found in the upper part of the digestive tract, including the crop, proventriculus and gizzard. For fish with a stomach, phytase activities are mainly in the stomach. Many factors can influence the efficiency of feed phytase in the gastrointestinal tract, and they can be divided into three main groups: (i) phytase related; (ii) dietary related and (iii) animal related. Phytase-related factors include type of phytase (e.g. 3- or 6-phytase; bacterial or fungal phytase origin), the pH optimum and the resistance of phytase to endogenous protease. Dietary-related factors are mainly associated with dietary phytate content, feed ingredient composition and feed processing, and total P, Ca and Na content. Animal-related factors include species, gender and age of animals. To eliminate the antinutritional effects of phytate (IP6), it needs to be hydrolyzed as quickly as possible by phytase in the upper part of the digestive tract. A phytase that works over a wide range of pH values and is active in the stomach and upper intestine (along with several other characteristics and in addition to being refractory to endogenous enzymes) would be ideal.

Nutritional significance of phytic acid and phytase

In the nutrition of monogastric animals phytate-P represents a poorly available source of phosphorus, especially in the case of diets low in phytase activity. Similarly the bioavailability of different minerals and trace elements is considerably reduced by phytate complexes. High concentrations of Ca increase the anti-nutritive effect of phytic acid on mineral and trace element bioavailability and thus impede the action of phytase. This effect can in part be compensated by an increased supply of vitamin D. There is also evidence for protective functions of phytic acid such as the prevention of the formation of free radicals, the delaying of post prandial glucose absorption, the decrease in plasma cholesterol and triglycerides as well as a change in the carry over of heavy metals. The basic mechanisms by which phytic acid may exert these effects are still not clear. In several studies reported in the literature, evidence for the nutritional significance and ecological importance of microbial phytase for pigs and poultry has been given. As the monogastric organism contains no or only negligible amounts of endogenous phytase in the stomach and small intestine, it is therefore dependent on plant or microbial phytase. Plant phytase, e.g. from rye, triticale, wheat or, in smaller amounts from barley, and supplemented Aspergillus-phytase display cumulative effects.

Replacement of inorganic phosphorus by microbial phytase for young pigs fed on a maize-soyabean-meal diet

Ninety-six crossbred young pigs (body weight 7.8 kg) were used in a 5-week trial to determine the effectiveness of microbial phytase (EC 3.1.3 26) in improving the bioavailabilities of P and other nutrients in maize-soyabean-meal diets and, thus, replacing inorganic P with phytase. A 2 x 5 factorial arrangement of treatments was employed with two available P (aP) levels (0.7 and 1.6 g/kg) and five phytase levels (0, 350, 700, 1050, 1400 U (the quantity of enzyme that liberates 1 mumol inorganic phosphate/min from 5.1 mm-sodium phytate at pH 5.5 and 37 degrees)/kg diet). In addition, two extra diets were formulated to supply the National Research Council (1988) recommended level of aP (3.2 g/kg) with 0 or 1400 U phytase. The addition of graded levels of phytase resulted in linear increases in average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake and weight gain:feed intake for pigs fed on diets containing 0.7 or 1.6 g aP/kg (P < 0.04). Also, the addition of phytase linearly increased apparent digestibilities of P and Ca (P < 0.01), whereas faecal P excretion was linearly decreased (P < 0.01). Linear increases in shear force, shear energy and ash content of both the metacarpal and tenth rib, and shear stress of the metacarpal were found to respond to added phytase (P < 0.01). These improvements in performance, apparent P absorption and bone measurements by phytase were also observed by increasing dietary aP levels for most measurements. Adding 1400 U phytase to the 3.2 g aP/kg diet further increased average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake, apparent absorption of P, Ca and N and metatarsal shear force and ash content (P < 0.01 to 0.05). Generally, maximum responses occurred at a phytase level of 1050 U/kg diet for the 0.7 g aP/kg diets and 700 U for the 1.6 g aP/kg diets. Based on non-linear and linear response equations generated for the phytase and aP levels, the average function of the equivalency of P (Y, g/kg) v. microbial phytase (X, U/kg) was developed across aP levels of 0.7 and 1.6 g/kg for average daily weight gain and apparent digestibility of P: Y = 2.622-2.559e 0.00185X. The replacement of 1 g inorganic P as defluorinated phosphate would require about 246 U microbial phytase. This represents 41% of released P from phytate.

Phytase

Of all the sources of phytase that have been studied (plant, animal, and microorganisms), the highest yields are produced by a wild-type strain A. niger NRRL 3135 (12.7 mg P/hr/ml = 6.8 microns P/ml/min = 113.9 nKat/ml) in a mineral salt medium in which total phosphate (4 mg %) is limiting for growth and cornstarch and glucose are the carbon sources. Synthesis of the enzyme is repressed by phosphate in the wild-type strain. Aspergillus niger NRRL 3135 produces two phytases one with pH optima at 2.5 and 5.5 (phyA) and one with an optimum at pH 2.0 (phyB). It also produces a pH 6.0 optimum phosphatase that has no phytase activity. These three glycoproteins have been purified to homogeneity, characterized, sequenced, and cloned. The sequences have been compared to each other, other phytases, and to known phosphatases. Their homology has been determined. The active sites of phytases show remarkable homology to the active site residues of the members of a particular class of acid phosphatase (histidine phosphatase). The most conserved sequence is RHGXRXP. Phytase has been covalently immobilized on Fractogel TSK HW-75 F and glutaraldehyde-activated silicate. It has been immobilized on agarose. Losses of activity have been noted on immobilization but these may be minimized by future research. It should be possible to commercially produce and recover penta-, tetra-, tri-, di-, and monoinositol phosphates using immobilized phytase if markets develop for those products. Phytase (phyA) from A. niger NRRL 3135 has been cloned into an A. niger glucoamylase producing strain CBS 513.88 using a construct that has a glucoamylae promoter and an A. niger NRRL 3135 leader sequence, and that is devoid of phosphate repression. The yield of the secreted enzyme was increased 52-fold above that of wild-type A. niger NRRL 3135. The bioengineered organism produces 270 microns P/ml/min (4500 nKat/ml) which is approximately 7.9 g/liter in the medium. The yield of the secreted enzyme was increased 1440-fold above that of wild type CBS 513.88. Commercial preparations of the cloned enzyme are available. Phytase (phyA) has been cloned into tobacco and canola. The enzyme is localized in the seed and expressed at high levels. Feeding of the seed to animals has made the phytin-P in the commercial diets available to the animals. The efficacy of feeding phytase to monogastric animals (poultry and swine) has been established. The amount of enzyme that is necessary to be added to commercial diets has been titred for broilers, layers, turkeys, ducks, and swine. The units of enzyme required are related to the phytin-P content in the diet. The use of the enzyme as a feed additive has been cleared in 22 countries. If phytase were used in the diets of all of the monogastric animals reared in the U.S., it would release phosphorus that has a value of $1.68 x 10(8) per year. The FDA has approved the enzyme preparation as GRAS. The effect of feeding phytase to animals enables assimilation of the P found in feed ingredients and diminishes the amount of phosphate in the manure and subsequently entering the environment. The effect of feeding phytase to animals on pollution has been quantitatively determined. If phytase were used in the diets of all of the monogastric animals reared in the United States, it would preclude 8.23 x 10(7) kg P from entering the environment.

[Evaluation of Aspergillus niger phytase and phosphate in weaned piglets. 2. Content and gain of fat, energy, ash, Ca and P in the animal body]

A high phytic acid diet (barley, wheat, soya bean meal, 4 g P/kg diet, of that 2/3 phytate P) without added phytase, with phytase supplement (1000 U/kg diet) or with supplementary phosphate (2.2 g P/kg diet) was examined with 3 x 12 weaned piglets. The three diets contained 8 g Ca/kg. At the end of experiment 6 pigs/group were slaughtered. In animal body (as empty body) the content and gain of ash, P, Ca, protein and fat were detected. P supplementation and supplementary phytase had no effect on dry matter, protein and fat content of animal body. The enzyme but more the supplementary phosphate increased mineralization of skeleton and made the animal body higher in ash, P and Ca content. Piglets without supplementary phytase and P gained 1.1 g P daily. Phytase increased daily P gain by 0.5 g (P < 0.05), the phosphate by 1.4 g (P < 0.001). The daily Ca gain was 1.7; 2.8 and 5.1 g in the different groups. A piglet (body weight 20 kg) with sufficient P and Ca in the diet gains 5 g P and 10 g Ca per kg body weight gain (empty body).

Dietary effect of phytogenic phytase and an addition of microbial phytase to a diet based on field beans, wheat, peas and barley on the utilization of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, zinc and protein in piglets

The effect of the addition of microbial phytase to a diet based on field beans (30%), wheat (28%), peas (25%), and barley (14%) was studied in a 2-week experiment with 3 x 8 castrated male, individually housed, hybrid piglets (live weight range 12-16 kg). All diets contained about 4.7 g Ca, 4.2 g P (77% present as phytate phosphorus), 1.0 g Mg, 60 mg Zn per kg diet, and 17% crude protein. Group I was fed the basal diet with a native phytase-activity of about 260 U per kg diet. In group II, 350 U, in group III, 700 U of microbial phytase per kg diet were added. The addition of microbial phytase improved the apparent P absorption (% of intake) from 48% (group I) to 66% (group II) and 71% (group III). Comparable positive effects from the phytase treatment were obtained for the calcium utilization. The phytase supplementation also enhanced plasma zinc concentration significantly. The concentration of inorganic phosphorus in plasma, the zinc digestibility, and the magnesium balance were improved in tendency. The utilization of nitrogen remained unchanged.

[Evaluation of Aspergillus niger phytase and dietary phosphate in weaned piglets. 1. Growth, blood serum and bone status]

A high phytic acid diet (barley, wheat, soya bean meal, 4 g P/kg, of that 2/3 phytate P) without added phytase, with phytase supplement (1000 U/kg diet) or with supplementary phosphate (2,2g P/kg diet) was examined with 3 x 12 weaned piglets. The high dietary P level due to phosphate addition, significantly improved body weight gain and feed:gain ratio. The phytase effect on these criteria was small. The phytase but more the supplementary phosphate increased P concentration of serum. In case of phytase addition pigs had 10% less ash P and Ca in the rib than animals of phosphate group. In the group without phytase or P addition the ash, P and Ca concentration of bone were decreased by 20%.