SAC Research

Phytase is one of the most successful exogenous enzymes because it is the only enzyme that almost always leads to improvement in animal growth, production and phosphorus utilisation in diets marginally deficient in phosphorus. In principle, phytase should increase phosphorus availability, but phytic acid hydrolysis causes the release of other macro- and micro-minerals as well as enhance amino acid and energy utilisation. These “side-effects” are termed the extra-phosphoric effects of phytase.  This presentation explains why understanding these side effects  is important and  attempts to explain them have not been so convincing.