Performance of pigs (Sus scrofa L.) fed diets supplemented with microbial phytase

Pigs fed diets supplemented with microbial phytase were significantly (P0.05) more efficient feed converters than the control, during the starter phase. Other parameters measured such as average daily gain (ADG), gain in weight (GW), average daily feed consumption (ADFC) and days on test (DOT) were not significantly increased by microbial phytase or MDCP [monodicalcium phosphate] supplementation. During the grower phase, production performance was not significantly influenced by microbial phytase or MDCP supplementation except for feed conversion ratio (FCR). Pigs fed basal diets containing 75 percent MDCP were significantly (P0.05) less efficient feed converters compared to those given basal diets containing 25 percent MDCP. The pigs fed basal diets containing 75 percent MDCP had significantly (P0.05) lower ADG compared to the other treatments during the finisher phase. Otherwise, no significant differences in production performance were observed. For the entire feeding period, performance of pigs receiving 50 percent MDCP with microbial phytase was comparable to those receiving 100 percent MDCP alone, in terms of ADG. Decreasing the level of MDCP to 25 or 50 percent did not adversely affect the ADG of pigs. No additional advantage was obtained when microbial phytase was supplemented at 100 percent MDCP level. The addition of microbial phytase allowed the reduction of use of MDCP to 50 percent of the level in the control without effecting feed efficiency. Neither microbial phytase nor MDCP supplementation significantly influenced bone calcium and ash contents, as well as blood-alkalin phosphatase levels at all stages of growth. However, bone phosphorus decreased (P0.05) with decreasing amount of MDCP supplementation. Phosphorus excretion decreased (P0.05) with decreasing MDCP supplementation in the diets. Phytase supplementation in diets containing as low as 50 percent MDCP was found to be more economical than adding 100 percent MDCP alone