Effect of Phytase on Digestibility and Performance of Growing and Finishing Pigs Fed Diets with Lupins and Rapeseed Meal

Lupin seeds and rapeseed meal (RSM) contain relatively high amounts of poorly digestible phytate. Phytase additive can help in the utilization of nutrients from the diet. The aim of this study was to determine total tract digestibility coefficients of nutrients and performance results of finishing pigs fed diets containing yellow lupin or narrow-leafed lupin seeds and/or RSM with similar or increasing levels of phytase. Three experiments were conducted. In Experiment I the effect of RONOZYME®HiPhos (100 g/t) in diets containing narrow-leafed or yellow lupin seeds and RSM on production parameters of fatteners was analyzed. In Experiment II the effect of phytase RONOZYME®HiPhos (1,000 FTU/t) in similar diets was analyzed but calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels in diets were reduced. In Experiment III the effect of increasing levels of Quantum Bluephytase (0, 5,000, 10,000 and 15,000 FTU/t) in diets with yellow lupin seeds with reduced Ca and P level on total tract digestibility coefficients of selected nutrients and performance of pigs was analyzed. In none of the experiments the enzyme additives included in the diet affected pig performance (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in apparent total tract digestibility coefficients of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP). The phytase additives significantly improved P and Ca digestibility coefficients (p < 0.05) in comparison with the control diet, but this improvement was not linearly related with phytase dosage. By improving digestibility phytase allows to reduce mineral contents in diets, thus reducing the cost of pig nutrition.