#17-106
CompleteCategory
Animal Science - Swine NutritionDate Full Report Received
08/31/2018Date Abstract Report Received
08/31/2018Investigation
Institution: North Carolina State UniversityPrimary Investigator: Dr. Eric Van Heugten Ph.D.
Funded By
National Pork BoardThis project specifically evaluated the impact of ultra-high doses of phytase on pork production parameters. Past research efforts have demonstrated positive effects of phytase supplementation at approximately 1,500 to 3,000 FTU/kg, but higher inclusion levels have not been adequately tested in a commercial production environment. The cost of phytase has decreased substantially; therefore, inclusion of ultra-high levels of phytase (beyond those required for P release) becomes economically feasible. In the present study with 2,150 pigs, we demonstrated that mega-dosing of phytase (3,000, 4,500, or 6,000 FTU/kg) linearly improved daily gain and feed efficiency and that this improvement was most dramatic during the final finishing phase (95 to 125 kg of body weight), improving feed efficiency from 3.76 to 3.41 (9.3% improvement). The final finishing phase represents a period of increased stress related to decreasing floor space per unit of pig body weight, resulting in a relatively profound reduction in pig performance. These data suggest that a targeted application of mega-doses of phytase during the final phase of production may be economically attractive compared to supplementation of phytase for the entire growth period.
Key Findings: Contact: Eric van Heugten |