Department: Novozymes A/S

Contact person: Katrine Pontoppidan, Ph.d. student
                               Novozymes A/S, Feed Applications
                               Bygning 8G 1.03, Laurentsvej 55
                               DK-2880 Bagsværd
                               +45 44 42 88 73
                               kpon at novozymes dot com
                               www.novozymes.com

Date: Beginning of 2007

Description:

Background:
Phytases can hydrolyse phytate (inositol 6-phosphate) and its degradation products. Monogastric animals are not able to digest phytate, hence phosphorus associated with phytate is not bioavailable. The use of DDGS (distillers dried grains with solubles) as a feed component has increased steadily in the last years. DDGS contains approximately 0.9% phosphorous (Spiehs et al., 2002) and this is believed to be highly bioavailable for poultry (54-100%) compared to other feed sources (Amezuea et al., 2004; Lumpkins and Batal, 2005). However the substantial variability in P availability in different DDGS batches is unacceptable to animal nutritionists and therefore phytase can be a useful tool to reduce this variability. There is only one peer reviewed publication on the subject of enzyme supplementation to DDGS containing diets for poultry, this study focused on the effect of NSP hydrolysing enzymes on laying performance and egg quality (Swiatkiewicz and Koreleski, 2006). Hence this is a very interesting subject for further research. 

Project proposal:
Characterise different DDGS batches with respect to total P and inositol phosphate associated P with an already established HPIC (High Performance Ion Chromatography) method. Use an established in vitro digestion system to evaluate the potential of different phytases to hydrolyse inositol phosphates in DDGS and thereby increase the bioavailability of P for monogastric animals.
Optionally the potential of other enzyme classes can be tested alone or in combination with phytase.  

References:
Spiehs,M.J.; Whitney, M.H.; Shurson, G.C. (2002): Nutrient database for distiller’s dried grains with solubles produced from new ethanol plants in Minesota and South Dakota. Journal of Animal Science 80, 2639-2645.

Amezuea, C.M.; Parsons, C.M. (2004): Content and relative bioavailability of phosphorus in distillers dried grains with solubles in chicks. Poultry Science 83, 971-976. 

Lumpkins and Batal (2005): The bioavailability of lysine and phosphorus in distillers dried grains with solubles. Poultry Science, 84, 581-586.

Swiatkiewicz,S.; Koreleski,J.  (2006): Effect of maize distillers dried grains with solubles and dietary enzyme supplementation on the performance of laying hens. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences 15(2), 253-260.