AB Vista, in cooperation with its Taiwan distributor, Besta Biotech Co, LTD, has hosted the International Phytate Summit in Tainan, discussing the latest research on phytate and its multi-factorial impact on animal production
The event helped more than 100 participants including nutritionists, formulators, feed millers and farmers, understand the anti-nutritional factors of phytate and identify advances in diet formulation to combat the anti-nutritional effect of phytate.
Opening the summit, Dr Bi Yu, from National Chung Hsing University Department of Animal Science, highlighted the importance of further understanding the ‘break down’ products of phytate, particularly phytate esters and inositol and their impact on the animal.
The session began with the topic “Phytate in animal feeds, its intestinal degradation and resulting inositol levels in the blood of pig and poultry,” presented by Dr Imke Kuhn, senior research manager at AB Vista.
This was followed by a presentation by Dr Charles Brearley from the University of East Anglia, explaining how inositol improves feed conversion ratio in poultry and how the severity of Woody Breast myopathy is reduced through modulation of oxygen homeostasis-related genes in broiler chickens.
Dr Audrey McElroy from Texas A&M University presented on the topic “Interaction of calcium and necrotic enteritis in broilers.” Dr McElroy shared a recent trial that shows that not only the inclusion rate of calcium but also limestone source and solubility characteristics affect broiler performance and mortality during naturally occurring necrotic enteritis.
Dr Mike Bedford, research director from AB Vista presented “Superdosing of Phytases.” Sharing detailed trial data, Dr Bedford concluded that superdosing of phytases will improve nutrient availability, while coupled with antioxidants and supplemental zinc, it will result in faster growth of the broiler as well as reduced Woody Breast incidence.
