DuPont Nutrition and Biosciences launches the industry-leading novel phytase enzyme, Axtra phy gold. The enzyme offers superior performance compared to other phytases on the market, delivering greater feed cost savings to producers. Axtra phy gold will be available in the United States, Mexico and India and eventually worldwide, pending regulatory authorisations.

Recent scientific studies demonstrate that Axtra phy gold’s ability to allow formulation of inorganic phosphate-free high phytate diets, improves sustainability of animal production. It also offers market-leading thermostability, proven to outperform other commercial phytases under a wide range of pelleting conditions, making it the natural choice for applications where pelleting performance is a primary concern.

Phytate is the main storage form of phosphorus in all grains, which represents the basis of most plant-based diets used in animal production. Phytases are enzymes that help break down phytate, allowing better absorption of phosphate and reducing or removing the need for addition of phosphate supplements in poultry and pig diets. The ideal phytase needs to break down phytate as quickly as possible to reduce the phytate’s negative impact. This requires an enzyme that is highly active at the low pH in an animal’s upper digestive tract. Axtra phy gold has been developed with this in mind.

“Most poultry and swine diets contain a phytase enzyme, which is an important contributor to the feed performance,” said Dr Arno de Kreij, segment leader, DuPont Animal Nutrition. “DuPont is committed to continuously investing in and developing better solutions for animal producers, such as Axtra phy gold,– that enable the industry to further optimise feed cost and meet the challenges faced during feed production, like environmental impact.”

DuPont has an extensive history with phytase development and production. In 2003, the company launched Phyzyme XP, the first bacterial enzyme, to help animal producers reduce phosphorus emissions, improve nutrient uptake and maximise phytate break down to drive profitability.

As most feed is pelleted, in 2009, DuPont introduced pioneering Thermo Protection Technology (Phyzyme XP TPT) to the industry to deliver greater thermostability.

With Axtra phy, in 2013, the Company set a new benchmark of bioefficacy yet again. Due to its low pH optimum, Axtra phy was the most bioefficacious phytase on the market – until today.

“Axtra phy gold is a reinforcement of our leadership in phytase enzymes, and it will bring a modern, more advanced offering to the animal nutrition industry,” said de Kreij.

Axtra phy gold also supplies animal producers with numerous value-added services, such as diet and raw material analysis and feed formulation tools, in line with DuPont’s nutribiotic approach to working with customers on their holistic feed strategy.