The potential performance benefits from phytate degradation beyond simple phosphorus (P) release and the mechanisms by which this is achieved will be the key themes in a paper to be presented at the 10th Asia Pacific Poultry Conference (APPC) 2014 by AB Vista’s Research Director, Dr Mike Bedford.

“Latest figures suggest that 93 per cent of the poultry feed in Asia is currently treated with a phytase feed enzyme, yet the majority is targeted only at P release, and then rarely to recover more than 0.13 per cent available P (AvP),” states Dr Yingjun (Y.J.) Ru, AB Vista’s Technical Sales Director North Asia.

“At that standard level of dosing, phytase typically only degrades around 60 per cent of the phytate in the diet.

“However, the substantial anti-nutrient effect of phytate is now becoming more widely recognised, and even small amounts have been shown to significantly reduce efficiency of digestion. The use of high phytase doses capable of degrading the vast majority of dietary phytate – known as superdosing – therefore has huge potential to deliver additional financial gains to the Asian poultry industry.”

Dr Bedford’s presentation will take place at 2pm on the 20 October, as the first invited speaker in the Nutrition and Feed Additives session.

“AB Vista has led the way in developing superdosing as a concept, designing its latest generation phytase, Quantum Blue, specifically to maximise phytate destruction and eliminate phytate anti-nutrient effects,” Dr Ru adds.

“Phenomenal sales growth in the region during the past few years means that we’re extremely proud to be supporting the APPC as a silver sponsor this year, when the theme for the conference – ‘Poultry Science & Industry For Next Generation’ – so closely matches our aspirations as a company.”

For more information, contact AB Vista on +44 (0)1672 517 650 or [email protected].