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Forty-eight grower pigs were used to evaluate the effects of feeding low phytic acid (LPA) corn, LPA soybean meal, normal corn (NC), normal soybean meal (NSBM), and phytase on nutrient digestibility and excretion. Barrows were blocked by BW (initial BW=45.3+/-1.6 kg) and randomly assigned to 1 of 8 dietary treatments in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement (6 pigs/treatment). Pigs were fed twice daily (0700 and 1700 h) at 3 times the ME requirement for maintenance. Phytase was added to the diet at 510 phytase units/kg of feed (where 1 phytase unit is the quantity of enzyme that liberates 1 mumol of inorganic P/min from 0.005 mol/L of sodium phytate at pH 5.5 and 37 degrees C), at the expense of corn starch, and all diets were formulated to provide 0.39% total P, 0.50% Ca, and 1.0% lysine with no supplemental inorganic P. Pigs were adapted to metabolism crates and dietary treatments for 7 d, followed by a 3-d total collection of urine and feces. Total fecal DM excreted, percentage of DM of feces, and percentage of DM digested were not different (P>0.53) among treatments. Fecal P excretion was reduced for pigs fed LPA corn vs. NC (2.85 vs. 3.24+/-0.119 g/d; P=0.024), for pigs fed LPA soybean meal vs. NSBM (2.79 vs. 3.30+/-0.119 g/d; P=0.007), for pigs fed phytase vs. nonphytase diets (2.80 vs. 3.29+/-0.119 g/d; P=0.009), and for pigs fed LPA corn, LPA soybean meal, and phytase vs. NC and NSBM without phytase (2.16 vs. 3.70+/-0.237 g/d; P<0.001). Phosphorus digestibility was increased for pigs fed diets containing LPA corn vs. NC (48.4 vs. 39.9+/-2.27%; P=0.012), for pigs fed phytase vs. nonphytase diets (48.4 vs. 39.9+/-2.27%; P=0.019), and for pigs fed the LPA corn, LPA soybean meal, and phytase diet vs. the NC and soybean meal diet (60.1 vs. 34.1+/-4.5%; P<0.001) and tended to be increased for pigs fed LPA soybean meal vs. NSBM (47.2 vs. 41.1+/-2.27%; P=0.075). Corn type and soybean meal type had no effect (P>0.11) on water-soluble P excretion. However, pigs fed diets containing phytase tended to excrete less total water-soluble P than those without phytase inclusion (1.99 vs. 2.27+/-0.099 g/d; P<0.066). This study demonstrates that feeding any combination of LPA corn, LPA soybean meal, and phytase was additive, significantly improving P digestibility and dramatically decreasing P excretion to reduce the potential impacts of P from pig manure on the environment.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of NutriDense low-phytate corn in conjunction with increasing added dietary fat on growing and finishing pig performance. Diets in both experiments were corn-soybean meal-based, with yellow dent or NutriDense low-phytate corn and 0, 3, or 6% added choice white grease arranged in a 2 x 3 factorial design. There were 25 to 28 pigs per pen and 7 pens (replications) per treatment in both experiments. In Exp. 1, a total of 1,162 gilts with an initial BW of 44.6 kg were used in a 28-d growth study. A constant true ileal digestible (TID) Lys:ME ratio of 2.80 g/Mcal and available P:ME ratio of 0.90 g/Mcal were maintained in all treatment diets. Overall (d 0 to 28), there were no corn source x added fat interactions (P >/= 0.79). Regardless of corn source, ADG and G:F increased (linear, P = 0.03) with increasing added fat. There were no differences (P >/= 0.34) in pig growth performance between those fed NutriDense low-phytate or yellow dent corn. In Exp. 2, a total of 1,128 gilts with an initial BW of 81.6 kg were used in a 28-d growth study. A constant TID Lys:ME ratio of 2.15 g/Mcal of ME and available P:ME ratio of 0.75 g/Mcal were maintained in all treatment diets. Overall (d 0 to 28), there was a tendency (P = 0.07) for a corn source x added fat interaction for G:F, which can be explained by the improved G:F in pigs fed yellow dent corn only when 6% fat was added to the diet, whereas G:F was improved at both 3 and 6% added fat in pigs fed NutriDense low-phytate corn. There were no differences (P >/= 0.18) in growth performance between pigs fed NutriDense low-phytate or yellow dent corn. These results indicate that increasing added fat improved growth performance regardless of the corn source. In addition, growth performance was similar for pigs fed NutriDense low-phytate or yellow dent corn.

Two studies were conducted to determine the effect of diets containing low-phytate barley or supplemented with phytase on P balance and excretion in grower pigs. In Exp. 1, eight 32-kg barrows were assigned to a repeated, 4 x 4 Latin square design and fed 4 diets that contained 96% barley: normal-phytate hulled barley (HB), low-phytate hulled barley (LPHB), normal-phytate hull-less barley (HLB), and low-phytate hull-less barley (LPHLB). The barley cultivars contained 0.16, 0.05, 0.24, and 0.03% phytate, respectively. Inorganic P (iP) was added to the HB and HLB diets to meet the 1998 National Research Council recommendation of available P (aP, 0.23%), whereas LPHB and LPHLB contained sufficient aP. The diets were fed at 2.5 times the maintenance requirement for ME. The apparent total tract digestibilities (ATTD) of P did not differ between the hulled and hull-less barley diets, but P retention (%) and excretion were greater in pigs fed the hull-less barley diets (P < 0.05). The ATTD of P was greater and P excretion was 35% lower in pigs fed the low-phytate compared with the normal-phytate diets (P < 0.001). The amount of P retained (g/d) was greater (P < 0.001) in pigs fed low-phytate barley, reflecting an ATTD of P of 65 and 49% for low-phytate and normal-phytate barley, respectively (P < 0.001). In Exp. 2, eight 21-kg barrows were assigned to a repeated, 4 x 4 Latin square design and fed 4 diets based on barley and soybean meal (SBM): HB-SBM, HB-SBM + iP, HB-SBM + phytase, and LPHB-SBM. The HB-SBM and HB-SBM + phytase diets were deficient in aP, whereas the HB-SBM + iP and LPHB-SBM diets had adequate aP. The feeding regimen was similar to that of Exp. 1. Adding iP to the HB-SBM diet did not affect the ATTD but increased the amount of P retained (g/d) and excreted (P < 0.001). The ATTD and amount of P retained (g/d) did not differ among pigs fed the HB-SBM + iP, HB-SBM + phytase, and LPHB-SBM diets. However, pigs fed the HB-SBM + phytase and LPHB-SBM diets excreted 32 and 29% less P, respectively, than pigs fed the HB-SBM + iP diet (P < 0.05), confirming that low-phytate barley is as effective as supplemental phytase in improving P digestibility and utilization and decreasing P excretion in grower pigs.

This study reevaluated the method of regressing of total P output against dietary P intake to simultaneously estimate true P digestibility and endogenous P loss in growing pigs fed either conventional or low-phytate soybean meal (SBM). Four isocaloric diets were formulated to contain increasing concentrations of each type of SBM (8 diets total), and therefore contained increasing concentrations of dietary P. Dietary P and Ca concentrations were deficient because they were supplied solely by SBM, and Ca:total P ratios were less than 1:1. Sixteen barrows (initial BW 17.7 +/- 1.8 kg) were surgically fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum, randomly assigned to metabolism crates, and fed the experimental diets in a replicated 8 x 8 Latin square design. Feed was provided at 90 g/kg of BW(0.75) and fed in 2 equally sized meals at 0800 and 2000, with diets containing Cr sesquioxide (3 g/kg) as an indigestible marker. As the P concentration increased from 0.9 to 3.9 g/kg of DM, the apparent prececal P digestibility increased for conventional SBM (P < 0.05), but no relationship was observed for low-phytate SBM. The output of total P [mg/(kg of BW(0.75).d)], either prececal or total tract, exhibited a linear relationship (P < 0.01) with increasing P intake. However, a quadratic response (P = 0.02) was also detected for total tract P output from pigs fed low-phytate SBM. True P digestibility was not different between prececal and total tract collection sites (P > 0.10), but was greater (P < 0.01) for low-phytate SBM (62.6%) compared with conventional SBM (44.5%). Endogenous P estimates were not different between the SBM varieties and averaged 4.83 mg/(kg of BW(0.75).d). However, endogenous P estimates were highly variable between individual animals and, therefore, were not significantly different from zero. In this study, estimates of endogenous P loss from pigs were relatively low compared with previously reported values, and evidence of nonlinearity in P output was observed. These results suggest that the difference in true P digestibility between conventional SBM and low-phytate SBM is influenced by dietary phytate content when growing pigs are fed P-deficient diets.

Supplementation of microbial phytase usually improves the digestibility and utilization of phosphorus in feedstuffs of plant origin. The effect of phytase supplementation on the digestibilities of AA also has been examined, but the results have been inconsistent. This study was carried out to determine the effect of phytase (Natuphos) supplementation, at a rate of 2,000 phytase units/kg, to two basal diets on the apparent ileal digestibilities (AID) of GE, CP, and AA, and on the apparent total-tract digestibilities (ATTD) of CP and GE. The basal diets contained 18% CP and were formulated (as-fed basis) to contain either a low (0.22%) or high content (0.48%) of phytate P. The high-phytate diet contained 20% rice bran, which is a rich source of phytate and has low intrinsic phytase activity. Eight barrows (average initial BW = 40.6 kg), fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum, were fed the four diets according to a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design. The pigs were fed twice daily at 0800 and 2000, equal amounts each meal, at a rate of 2.4 times the daily maintenance requirement for ME. Each experimental period comprised 14 d. Ileal digesta were collected from 0800 to 2000 on d 12, 13, and 14. Feces were collected from 0800 on d 8 until 0800 on d 12. Chromic oxide was used as the digestibility marker. The AID of GE, CP, and AA and the ATTD of CP and GE were less in the high- than in the low-phytate diet (P < 0.01). With the exception of glutamic acid, phytase supplementation did not affect (P > 0.10) the AID of CP and AA. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of phytase on the ATTD of CP and GE. These results show that if a response occurs to phytase supplementation, it is independent of the dietary phytate content.

Eight mature dogs (19.3 +/- 0.1 kg) were used in an experiment to compare the effects of feeding soybeans containing low concentrations of oligosaccharides and phytate on nutrient availability in complete foods fed to dogs. All foods were formulated to be isonitrogenous and contained low-oligosaccharide, low-phytate soybean meal (LLM); conventional soybean meal (SBM); low-oligosaccharide, low-phytate whole soybeans (LLB); or conventional whole soybeans (WSB) as the protein source. Daily DMI averaged 287 +/- 4 g/d. Fecal outputs were greatest for LLB and WSB, averaging 48.2 g DM/d. Small intestinal DM digestibility ranged from 80.9% (LLM) to 74.0% (LLB) but was unaffected by treatment. Large intestinal DM digestibility did not differ among treatments (P = 0.652). Total-tract DM digestibility was higher (P = 0.020) for LLM (87.0%) than for SBM (84.8%). No difference in total-tract DM digestibility was observed for the two WSB foods (average = 83.3%; P = 0.286). Nitrogen retention did not differ among foods containing LLM and SBM (1.2 g of N/d; P = 0.486) or LLB and WSB (0.9 g of N/d; P = 0.225). Small intestinal N digestibility did not differ among LLM- and SBM-containing foods (80.6%; P = 0.190) or LLB and WSB (69.3%; P = 0.640). Total-tract N digestibility did not differ among foods containing LLM and SBM (83.5%; P = 0.627) or LLB and WSB (76.8%; P = 0.968). Tryptophan digestibility was higher for SBM than for LLM (P = 0.039). Histidine and tryptophan digestibilities were higher in WSB compared with LLB (P = 0.049 and P < 0.001, respectively). No differences in nonessential AA digestibility were observed when comparing soy-based foods. The results of this study demonstrate that LLM, SBM, LLB, and WSB can be effective sources of protein for canine foods and have a high digestibility. Differences in small intestinal digestibility of tryptophan and histidine may require consideration when formulating diets using low-oligosaccharide, low-phytate soybeans or meal.

Consensus phytase is a new biosynthetic, heat-stable enzyme derived from the sequences of multiple homologous phytases. Two experiments were conducted to determine its effectiveness, relative to inorganic P and a mutant enzyme of Escherichia coli phytase (Mutant-EP), in improving dietary phytate-P availability to pigs. In Exp. 1, 36 pigs (3 wk old, 7.00 +/- 0.24 kg of BW) were fed a low-P corn-soybean meal basal diet plus consensus phytase at 0, 250, 500, 750, 1,000, or 1,250 U/kg of feed for 5 wk. Plasma inorganic P concentration, plasma alkaline phosphatase activity, bone strength, and overall ADG and gain:feed ratio of pigs were improved (P < 0.05) by consensus phytase in both linear (R2 = 0.20 to 0.70) and quadratic (R2 = 0.30 to 0.70) dose-dependent fashions. In Exp. 2, 36 pigs (4 wk old, 9.61 +/- 0.52 kg BW) were fed the basal diet + inorganic P at 0.1 or 0.2%, consensus phytase at 750 or 450 U/kg of feed, Mutant-EP at 450 U/kg of feed, or 225 U consensus + 225 U Mutant-EP/kg of feed. Pigs fed 750 U of consensus phytase or 450 U of Mutant-EP/kg feed had plasma inorganic concentrations and bone strength that fell between those of pigs fed 0.1 or 0.2% inorganic P. These two measures were 16 to 29% lower (P < 0.05) in pigs fed 450 U of consensus phytase/kg of feed than those of pigs fed 0.2% inorganic P. Plasma inorganic P concentrations were 14 to 29% higher (P < 0.05) in pigs fed Mutant-EP vs. consensus phytase at 450 U/kg at wk 2 and 3. In conclusion, the experimental consensus phytase effectively releases phytate P from the corn-soy diet for weanling pigs. The inorganic P equivalent of 750 U of consensus phytase/kg of feed may fall between 0.1 and 0.2%, but this requires further determination.

Thirty-five crossbred barrows averaging 14.5 kg initial BW were used in a 5-wk experiment to compare the P availability and nutritional value of a low-phytate hybrid corn (LPC, 0.26% total P, 0.08% phytic acid P) homozygous for the lpa 1-1 allele with a nearly isogenic normal hybrid corn (NC, 0.25% total P, 0.20% phytic acid P). The pigs were fed individually twice daily in metabolism pens. Three semipurified diets were created in which corn was the only source of phytate. Diet 1 contained 72% NC, 0.15% estimated available P (aP) and 0.55% Ca. Diet 2 contained 72% LPC, 0.24% aP, and 0.55% Ca. The only differences between Diets 1 and 2 were the source of corn and the levels of aP. No inorganic P (iP) was added to these diets in order to measure the animal response to the different levels of aP in the corn hybrids. Diet 3 was NC Diet 1 supplemented with iP to equal the level of aP in LPC Diet 2. Diets 4 and 5 were practical corn-soybean meal diets formulated with each corn to meet all minimum nutrient requirements and contained 0.30% aP and 0.65% Ca. For the semipurified diets, pigs fed LPC Diet 2 had higher (P < 0.01) growth performance, bone breaking strength, P absorption and retention, Ca absorption and retention, and N retention than pigs fed NC Diet 1. However, when the NC diet was supplemented with iP to equal the aP in the LPC diet, most criteria were similar (P > or = 0.2), indicating an equal nutritional value for both corn hybrids after adjusting for phytate level. The only treatment difference, other than P excretion, between the practical corn diets supplemented with soybean meal was a higher (P < 0.05) bone breaking strength for pigs fed LPC Diet 5 compared with NC Diet 4. The use of LPC in pig diets reduced P excretion in swine waste by 50 and 18.4% in the semipurified and practical diets, respectively, compared with NC. Using our in vitro procedure designed to simulate the digestive system of the pig, the availability of P for pigs was estimated at 56% for LPC and 11% for NC.

Three experiments were conducted with 96 growing Landrace x Yorkshire x Duroc crossbreds to determine the collective effectiveness of cereal phytase from wheat middlings, microbial phytase, and citric acid in improving phytate-P bioavailability in corn-soy diets. In Exp. 1, 40 gilts (7 wk old) were fed five diets for 8 wk. Diets 1, 2, and 3 were low-P, corn-soybean meal diets (CSB) + 0, .1, or .2% inorganic P (Pi) as calcium phosphate, respectively. Diet 4 was a similar corn-soy diet that included 15% wheat middlings (461 cereal phytase U/kg). Diet 5 was the CSB + microbial phytase (1,200 U/kg; Natuphos, BASF, Mount Olive, NJ). In Exp. 2, 16 barrows (8 wk old) were fed two diets for 6 wk. Diet 1 was the same as Diet 3 of Exp. 1 (.2% Pi). Diet 2 was Diet 4 of Exp. 1 + microbial phytase (300 U/kg). In Exp. 3, 40 barrows and gilts (6 wk old) were fed four diets for 6 wk. Diets 1 and 2 were the same as those in Exp. 2. Diet 3 was Diet 2 of Exp. 2 + 1.5% citric acid. Diet 4 was similar to Diet 3 but contained 10 instead of 15% wheat middlings. In Exp. 1, pigs fed the low-P, CSB (Diet 1) had lower (P < .05) ADG, ADFI, plasma Pi concentration, bone strength, and mobility score than pigs of the other four treatments. Measurements for pigs fed the 15% wheat middlings diet were not significantly different from those of pigs fed the CSB + .1% Pi or microbial phytase. In Exp. 2, ADG (P=.06) during wk 1 to 3 and gain:feed ratio (P < .02) and plasma Pi concentration (P < .005) during all weeks favored pigs fed the CSB + .2% Pi compared with the other diet including 15% wheat middlings. In Exp. 3, identical ADG during all weeks and similar plasma Pi concentrations at wk 4 and 6 were observed between pigs fed the two citric acid diets (Diets 3 and 4) and the CSB + .2% Pi (Diet 1). Pigs fed Diet 4 (10% wheat middlings) had even higher (P < .02) gain:feed ratio during wk 1 to 3 than those fed Diet 1. It seems feasible to completely replace calcium phosphate with 10 to 15% wheat middlings, 300 U microbial phytase/ kg, and 1.5% citric acid in the corn-soy diets for growing pigs.

Two experiments were conducted with crossbred weanling pigs to determine the optimal dietary supplement of Aspergillus niger phytase activity to a low-P, corn-soybean meal basal diet (BD). In Exp. 1, 50 pigs (7.61 +/- .56 kg BW) received the BD supplemented with 750, 1,050, 1,250, or 1,350 phytase units (PU)/g, or .21% P as mono-dibasic calcium phosphate (MDCaP) for 4 wk. In Exp. 2, 12 pigs (6.39 +/- .74 kg BW) were individually housed in metabolism cages and received BD, BD plus the optimal phytase activity (1,200 PU/g), or BD plus .21% P as MDCaP for 2 wk. In Exp. 1, additions of phytase > 1,050 PU/g of BD did not improve ADG, ADFI, gain/feed, or plasma AP activity. Quadratic relationships between dietary phytase activity and these measures were found and their stationary points were at approximately 1,200 PU/g of BD. Estimated maximum responses of these measures in pigs fed phytase were > or = 90% compared with MDCaP. Pigs fed 1,250 PU/g of BD maintained normal plasma P and Ca concentrations. In Exp. 2, pigs that received 1,200 PU/g of BD utilized dietary P more effectively (P < .05) than pigs fed the BD or the BD plus MDCaP. Although they consumed 44% less P per day, these pigs retained only 7% less P than pigs that received MDCaP. One thousand units of phytase activity supported retention of 1.1 mg of P from the BD, and this level of phytase supplementation was equivalent in effect to .91 mg of P from MDCaP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Some cereal by-products, such as bran, exhibit a high phytase activity that may enhance phytate P digestibility. This was studied in growing pigs fed a phytase-rich (1,200 IU/kg) diet containing 20% rye bran. The trial involved 12 animals; six were fed a control diet and six were fed a diet containing rye bran for 2 mo. Both diets contained the same levels of energy, protein, Ca (.7%) and total P (.4%). No inorganic P was added; thus, the dietary P was mainly phytic. Pigs fed the control diet, in contrast to those fed the diet containing rye bran, developed a P deficiency, as indicated by hypophosphatemia, hypophosphaturia, hyperhydroxyprolinuria, hypercalcemia, and hypercalciuria. Phosphorus from the rye bran diet was more completely absorbed (55 vs 36%) and retained (50 vs 36%) than that from the control diet. Calcium absorption was equal for the two diets, but Ca retention was higher in pigs fed rye bran than in controls. Pigs fed the rye bran diet showed greater bone density, ash content, and bending moments than controls. In conclusion, high dietary phytase levels or phytase-rich by-products increased phytate P availability and consequently improved bone scores.