317 Awardee Talk: Functional Roles of Phytase and Xylanase for Nursery Pigs and Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this research was to investigate the functional roles of phytase and xylanase in nursery pigs and broiler chickens. These enzymes have been widely studied and have shown consistent results improving nutrient digestibility and growth performance. However, recent studies have raised the hypothesis that phytase and xylanase could also have potential effects on intestinal and bone health, and intestinal microbiota. The first study studied at the effects of a bacterial 6-phytase on nutrient digestibility and retention of nursery and growing pigs. The results showed that supplementing a bacterial 6-phytase in pig diets can be a potential alternative for reducing high levels of inorganic phosphorus sources while still increasing the digestibility and utilization of phosphorus by the animals. The second study investigated the efficacy and optimal level of a bacterial 6-phytase supplemented beyond traditional dose levels on bone and intestinal health, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance of nursery pigs. The results revealed that the supplementation of the bacterial 6-phytase enhanced bone health, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance in nursery pigs. The third study aimed to determine the effects of phytase supplementation on the intestinal microbiota and morphology, bone health, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance of broiler chickens. The results showed that phytase supplementation had potential benefits on the microbiota by reducing potential harmful bacteria and increasing beneficial bacteria. Additionally, phytase had positive effects on bone health, intestinal morphology, and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens. The fourth study examined the functional roles of xylanase on the intestinal health and growth performance of nursery pigs. The results showed that xylanase supplementation had beneficial effects on intestinal health by reducing the digesta viscosity, the relative abundance of potentially harmful bacteria, and the oxidative stress in the jejunal mucosa. All of these factors collectively reflected in improvements on the intestinal morphology, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance of nursery pigs. In conclusion, the results of these studies reaffirmed the benefits of phytase and xylanase related to nutrient digestibility and growth performance in nursery pigs and broiler chickens, as well as showed potential benefits on intestinal health and microbiota of the animals. Supplementing these enzymes could also contribute to a reduction in feed costs and environmental concerns associated with a poor hydrolysis and breakdown of antinutritional factors in animal diets.