Performance of Seven Commercial Phytases in an in Vitro Simulation of Poultry Digestive Tract

The aim of this study was to compare the biochemical properties of seven commercially available phytase products as well as their catalytic performance in an in vitro simulation of the digestive tract of poultry. Their enzymatic properties relevant with respect to phytate dephosphorylation in the digestive tract of birds were determined under identical assay conditions. All phytase products included in the study showed an acid pH optimum of activity and were capable of releasing the organically bound phosphate from phytate during the in vitro simulation. However, their overall biochemical properties and relative catalytic performances were remarkably different. The in vitro degradation system was considered as a simple and useful tool to evaluate the suitability of a phytase to be used as a feed supplement. Although relevant factors such as dietary P levels, intestinal phytase, and P absorption are not implemented in the system, this approach might help to reduce the number of feeding trials necessary in the search for a better suited phytase for animal feeding application.