Are OptiPhos® matrix values dependent on the feed formula?

Although cereals make up the largest part of any feed formulation, most of the phosphorus (P) contribution comes from the protein sources. This is true for both free P, but also for P in the form of phytate (phytate-P) which represents 64 - 91 % of total P. In feed formulations, approximately 60 - 75 % of phytate-P comes from the protein sources while the remainder comes from the cereal source (Table 1).

Table 1. Total P and phytate-P levels in feed materials

  Total P (g/kg) Phytate-P (g/kg) Phytate-P/total P ratio (%)
Protein sources      
Soybean meal 6.6 4.6 70 % 
Rapeseed meal 10.5 7.9 75 %
Sunflower seed meal 10.3 8.2 80 %
Rice feed meal 16.5 14.9 90 %
Full fat soybeans 5.0 3.5 70 %
 
Cereals      
Corn 2.4 2.1 88 %
Wheat 2.8 1.8 64 %
Barley 3.1 2.3 74 %
Sorghum 2.7 1.9 70 %
Triticale 3.4 2.2 65 %
Rice 0.9 0.8 89 %
 
Cereal by products      
Corn bran 4.0 3.0 75 %
Wheat bran 8.2 7.0 85 %
Rice bran 14.2 12.7 89 %

Source: CVB, 22016

The determination of P matrix values for phytase enzymes are usually estimated using corn/soy diets. Therefore, if soybean meal is replaced with an alternative protein source like sunflower seed or rapeseed meal, and corn is replaced by wheat and barley, does this have an impact on the P matrix values of OptiPhos®?

A recent research trial carried out at Wageningen University investigated the effect of OptiPhos® at single, double or triple dose on the degradation of phytate-P from different protein sources and cereals using an in vitro digestibility model, mimicking the function of the stomach/gizzard and the small intestine. The results are shown in Table 2. The full Technical Bulletin can be downloaded here.

Table 2. Improvement in P release (mg/g feedstuff) and phytate-P degradation by OptiPhos® at different levels

Feed material Phytate-P (mg/g) Improvement in P release (mg P/g feed material) vs control * Phytate-P degradation (%) **
    250 OTU 500 OTU 750 OTU 250 OTU 500 OTU 750 OTU
 
Soybean meal 3.3 1.80 1.83 1.94 54 56 59
Sunflower seed meal 5.9 4.64 4.80 5.05 79 81 86
Rapeseed meal 8.0 5.57 5.49

5.56

70 69 70
 
Barley 1.6 0.62 0.73 0.79 39 46 49
Corn 1.5 1.04 1.08 1.14 70 72 76
Wheat 1.5 0.75 0.78 0.82 50 52 55

* Total P release by phytase at a certain FTU minus total P release in control diet
** Improvement in P release / total phytate-P in feed material
All doses were significantly different compared to the control (p < 0.05)

The trial concluded that: 

  • Adding a single dose of OptiPhos® to the diet significantly increased the amount of total P release (mg/g feed material), demonstrating that OptiPhos® is already a very powerful phytase even when included at a single dose.
  • Of the three protein sources, the improvement (%) in phytate-P degradation was highest for sunflower seed meal (86 %) and rapeseed meal (70 %) compared to soybean meal (59 %) with a triple dose of OptiPhos®.
  • Of the three cereals, phytate-P breakdown was highest in corn (76 %) with a triple dose of OptiPhos®.

Based on this data, OptiPhos® will release:

  • 0.10 - 0.15 g/kg more P from a corn/soy diet compared to a wheat/soy diet.
  • 0.25 - 0.30 g/kg more P when 5 % sunflower seed meal or rapeseed meal is incorporated in the feed to replace soybean meal.
  • 0.40 - 0.50 g/kg more P when 10 % sunflower seed meal or rapeseed meal is incorporated in the feed to replace soybean meal.

Conclusion 

  • The P matrix values of OptiPhos® calculated using corn/soy diets may be higher when using alternative protein sources (with higher phytate-P levels) in feed formulations.
  • The phytate-P levels in sunflower seed and rapeseed meal are not only higher than in soybean meal, but the phytate-P is more easily degradable by OptiPhos®, leading to more P release.