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Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-08-25 Origin: Site
Phytase belongs to the category of feed additive enzymes. It primarily helps monogastric animals utilize phytate phosphorus, promoting nutrient absorption. Phytase has become one of the most widely used enzyme preparations in the global feed industry. Next, Polifar columnist Tony will provide a comprehensive overview of the applications of phytase in the feed additive industry.
Phytase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of phytic acid and its salts into inositol and inorganic phosphorus (phosphate) . Phytase is usually extracted from microorganisms such as yeast, mold, and bacteria. It is also found in the rumen of ruminants and in some plants.
Phytase helps with the absorption of phytate phosphorus. Monogastric animals, such as poultry and pigs, cannot secrete phytase in their gastrointestinal tract, and most of the phytate phosphorus in their daily feed is contained in these animals. Therefore, phytase needs to be added to animal feed.
Phytases can be classified into different types based on their site of action, such as inositol hexaphosphate 3-phosphate hydrolase and 6-phosphate hydrolase. They can also be classified into acidic, neutral, and alkaline phytases based on their pH value. Currently, the mainstream type used in the feed industry is acidic phytase with a pH range of 2.5-5.5. Acidic phytases are well-suited to the acidic environment of the stomach of monogastric animals.
In addition to common raw materials such as soybean meal and corn, animal feed often includes various feed additives, such as lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, B vitamins, vitamin E, DCP, and MCP, as well as enzyme preparations. During feed processing, high temperatures may occur, which can deactivate acidic phytase. Therefore, the optimal enzyme for feed processing is heat-resistant acidic phytase, a modified or upgraded version of acidic phytase. Polifar primarily provides thermostable phytase.
Phosphorus, like energy and protein, is an essential nutrient for animals. However, phytic acid, found in feed ingredients such as corn and soybean meal, cannot be effectively absorbed by monogastric animals. Phytic acid and its salts have a strong chelating ability, binding with calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, proteins, and amino acids to form complexes that are difficult to digest and absorb. Furthermore, phytic acid can affect digestive enzymes, further reducing the utilization efficiency of proteins and amino acids.
| Comparison Dimensions | Anti-nutritional effects of phytic acid | Mechanism of phytase decryption |
| Phosphorus utilization | Monogastric animals have a low utilization rate of phytic acid phosphorus. 0~40%Large amounts of phosphorus are excreted in feces. | Catalytic hydrolysis of phytic acid degrades phytic acid phosphorus into absorbable inorganic phosphoric acid. |
| Mineral element absorption | It chelates trace elements such as calcium, zinc, iron, and magnesium, forming indigestible complexes. | It disrupts the complex structure between phytic acid and metal ions, releasing mineral nutrients. |
| Proteins and digestive enzymes | Complexed proteins reduce digestibility; they inhibit the activity of pepsin, amylase, and trypsin. | It relieves the inhibition of digestive enzymes by phytic acid, restores enzyme activity, and improves digestibility. |
The table above shows that phytic acid affects the absorption of minerals and proteins, reduces the digestibility and absorption of nutrients, and substandard animal nutrition negatively impacts the economic benefits of farms. Therefore, adding thermostable phytase to feed is essential.
Adding an appropriate amount of thermostable phytase to pig feed can increase phosphorus utilization by 20-40% and reduce phosphorus excretion in feces by 40%. It can also reduce nutrient absorption disorders caused by weaning stress in piglets.
of broiler and laying hens , healthy bone development requires calcium and phosphorus. Phytase promotes the absorption of phytate and phosphorus, and also enhances calcium absorption. Furthermore, it can reduce the likelihood of diarrhea in chicks and improve early growth rate.
The proportion of plant-based protein replacing fishmeal in modern feed is increasing year by year, resulting in higher phytic acid content in the feed. Adding phytase can effectively improve the utilization rate of phosphorus by fish , leading to significant weight gain and a 25% to 28% reduction in phosphorus excretion.
In their early stages, rumen animals have underdeveloped digestive tracts and, like monogastric animals, require phytase supplementation. Even in maturity, although they can synthesize some phytase, their digestion and absorption rate of phytic acid remains low, and adding phytase still has the potential to improve this.
In summary, the four main advantages of thermostable phytase are: improved phosphorus utilization, conservation of phosphorus resources, reduction of feed costs, improvement of animal production performance, and environmental protection.
| Advantages | Specific manifestations |
| Improve phosphorus utilization | Gradually release phosphorus bound to phytic acid to improve the supply of available phosphorus. |
| Improve calcium utilization | Reduces phytic acid binding to calcium and increases...Cause |
| Improve the utilization of trace elements | Helps release phytic acid-bound substancesZn,Mg,Feminerals |
| Improve amino acid digestibility | Reduce phytic acid-Protein complex formation improves protein and amino acid utilization. |
| Improve energy utilization | Phytic acid degradation may improve dietary energy utilization. |
| Reduce inorganic phosphorus demand | The amount of inorganic phosphorus added can be adjusted based on the actual measured nutritional formula. |
| Reduce feed costs | Reduce the use of some inorganic phosphorus and minerals under reasonable formulation conditions. |
| Reduce phosphorus emissions | Improve phosphorus utilization and reduce phosphorus excretion in feces |
| Improve resource utilization | Reduce dependence on limited inorganic phosphorus resources |
As can be seen from the table above, the application value of phytase has gradually expanded from the initial "release of phytic acid phosphorus" to the comprehensive impact on the utilization of calcium, amino acids, energy and other nutrients.
Phytase does not function alone. When thermostable phytase works in conjunction with calcium and phosphorus, vitamin D3, proteins and amino acids, minerals such as zinc, iron, and copper, other enzyme preparations, and organic acids, it can provide animals with maximum nutritional efficiency.
Phytase hydrolyzes phytic acid, releasing available free phosphorus, which then binds with calcium in feed, promoting animal bone growth and development and metabolism. Studies have shown that phytase can improve the apparent digestibility of calcium and phosphorus. Together, they improve animal bone development and effectively prevent rickets, osteomalacia, and skeletal deformities .
Vitamin D3 works synergistically with calcium to prevent calcium deficiency in animals. Experiments have shown that the synergistic use of microbial phytase and vitamin D3 improves the digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in growing pigs. In low-calcium, low-phosphorus diets for weaned piglets, thermostable phytase combined with vitamin D3 and probiotics can promote calcium absorption, thereby promoting healthy bone growth.
When feed enters an animal's stomach, the acidic environment causes phytic acid to bind with proteins, forming a precipitate and inhibiting the activity of enzymes such as pepsin. However, if the feed contains thermostable phytase, this enzyme can degrade the phytic acid, releasing proteins and amino acids, thereby improving protein breakdown efficiency and promoting intestinal absorption and deposition of amino acids. This results in improved animal lean meat percentage, egg production rate, and other production performance, reduced feed protein waste, and lower costs.
Phytic acid strongly chelates mineral metal ions such as zinc, iron, and copper, preventing animals from effectively absorbing and utilizing them, thus further affecting animal growth performance. Adding an appropriate amount of thermostable phytase to animal feed can prevent problems such as stunted growth, anemia, weakened immunity, and decreased reproductive performance. It can also improve the utilization efficiency of trace elements in feed and reduce the amount of additional inorganic minerals needed in the diet.
（1） Xylanase and Phytase
Xylanase primarily improves plant cell wall structure and releases trapped nutrients, while phytase addresses the anti-nutritional problems caused by phytic acid. When both are added simultaneously to piglet feed, the daily weight gain of piglets is significantly improved. Adding both phytase and xylanase to the mixed concentrate diet for weaning to finishing pigs also yields even better results.
（2） Protease
Proteases are primarily responsible for digesting proteins, while phytases require assistance to minimize interference from phytic acid in protein digestion. The synergistic effect of proteases and phytases in fish can improve the apparent digestibility of nutrients, the activity of intestinal digestive enzymes, and immunity, thereby enhancing growth performance.
（3） Compound Enzyme Preparations
when combined with cellulase, xylanase, protease, amylase, and other enzymes , can improve nutrient release from feed from different perspectives . Enzyme diversity can effectively address various nutritional deficiencies, thereby maximizing the synergistic effects between enzymes. This results in better overall nutrient absorption by animals.
Organic acids include citric acid, lactic acid, and formic acid. When citric acid works synergistically with thermostable phytase, animals absorb calcium and phosphorus more efficiently. This is because the lower pH in the stomach increases phytase activity , and the acidified environment allows phytic acid to form insoluble precipitates with minerals, further promoting nutrient absorption .
When excessive amounts of phytase are added to the feed, phytic acid can be completely degraded into inositol. Inositol is vitamin B8, which participates in lipid metabolism, signal transduction, and stress response in animals , and can further synergistically enhance the utilization of energy and fat.
Traditional phytases primarily work by degrading phytic acid, releasing phosphorus to reduce the need for inorganic phosphorus and prevent excessive phosphorus resource depletion. With advancements in modern technology and the emergence of refined animal feeding practices, the use of excessive doses of phytase has come to the forefront. This practice can effectively reduce phytic acid in the diet and its anti-nutritional effects . However, it's important to note that excessive doses do not mean that more phytase is always better .
In practical applications, it is necessary to pay attention to phytic acid levels , phytase types , enzyme activity, dosage , Ca levels , Ca:P ratio , diet composition , animal species , animal age , feed processing conditions , etc. For more professional advice, please contact Polifar professionals.
| Influencing factors | Why it is important |
| Phytase source | Enzymes from different sources have different properties |
| enzyme activity | Determines the ability to degrade phytic acid |
| pH range | Determining whether an enzyme can work effectively in key parts of the digestive tract |
| Stomach acid resistance | Affects the maintenance of enzyme activity before it enters the small intestine |
| resistance to protease | Affects the effective enzyme activity in the gastrointestinal tract |
| Phytic acid content in diet | Substrate level determines potential action space |
| Ca levels | Affects phytase release (P) and mineral utilization |
| Ca:P ratio | Directly affects the utilization efficiency of phosphorus in the formulation |
| Feed processing | Granulation and other processes may affect enzyme activity. |
| Animal species | The digestive tract environments of chickens, pigs, and fish are different. |
| Animal Age | Nutritional needs and digestive abilities differ at different growth stages. |
Currently, phytase is a standard additive in the feed industry. With continuous technological advancements, phytase products are constantly being upgraded and iterated. The high cost disadvantage of earlier products has gradually disappeared, and now low-cost, high-activity phytases that are resistant to high temperatures are active in the market. High-temperature resistant phytase is suitable for various aquaculture environments, promoting green farming and environmentally friendly sustainable development. In the future, phytase will develop towards compound enzyme formulations, precise nutrient matching, and targeted synergistic effects, further amplifying the synergistic effects of feed nutrition and driving the feed industry towards higher efficiency, greener practices, and lower costs.
Q1: Are Acidic Phytase and Thermostable Phytase The Same Product?
A1: No. They are classified based on different performance dimensions and are not equivalent. Acidic phytase is defined by its suitability for pH environments, adapting to the acidic digestive tracts of livestock and poultry; thermostable phytase is defined by its high-temperature resistance, able to withstand the high temperatures of feed pelleting. Most mainstream products on the market are modified heat-resistant acidic phytases, which are cross-functional products.
Q2: Is Phytase Cheap?
A2: Overall, it offers extremely high cost-effectiveness. While the unit price of phytase is higher than that of conventional feed ingredients, the amount added to feed is extremely low, resulting in very low additional costs per ton of feed. Simultaneously, it can replace expensive inorganic phosphorus, improve the utilization rate of raw material nutrients, effectively reduce overall formulation costs, and combines economic benefits with environmental value.
Q3: Is Phytase Hydrophilic?
A3: Natural phytase protein has good hydrophilicity and is soluble in water. Commercially available heat-resistant coated phytase has a hydrophobic coating material on its surface, which dissolves slowly in water and is only designed for process protection; after entering the animal digestive tract, the coating layer dissolves, and the core enzyme protein regains its hydrophilic properties and performs its normal catalytic function.
Q4: Where Can I Buy Phytase?
A4: Polifar is a reliable phytase distributor and a long-term supplier of high-quality phytase. Sample testing is supported, and custom orders are available for large quantities. Welcome to inquire.
In conclusion, thermostable phytase holds a significant position in feed additives, not only providing animals with a better nutrient absorption environment but also offering advantages such as cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and environmental protection. In the future, it will synergistically promote the comprehensive absorption of nutrients by animals, improve overall animal health, and contribute to the sound and rapid development of the global livestock economy, which is of great significance to the high-quality development of the modern feed industry. Polifar, as a phytase supplier, will continue to provide global farmers with the highest quality phytase, offering a one-stop purchasing service for worry-free phytase purchases!
