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.

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