Use of phytase in feed for poultry and swine

Abstract

This review aimed to demonstrate the mode of action and benefits of the use of phytase in nutrition and feeding of poultry and pigs. Phytic acid is a molecule which serves as a reserve of phosphorus for plants and microorganisms, phosphorus contained in that molecule is unavailable to birds and swine, because they have small production of phytase to degrade the phytic acid. The use of exogenous phytase in pig and poultry feed can assist in the release of phosphorus unavailable to the animals before, and thus decrease the inclusion of inorganic phosphorus in diets and also decrease the excretion of phosphorus to the environment, as it presents a great polluting power. In addition make available to the phytic acid for animal, the phytase also assists in the release of other minerals such as calcium, copper, zinc, cobalt, manganese and iron, as well as amino acids and proteins may be found complexed with phytic acid molecule and thereby unavailable to animals.