Phytase and acetic acid supplementation in the diet of early weaned piglets: effect on performance and apparent nutrient digestibility

A study with Landrace x Yorkshire piglets weaned at 21 days of age was conducted for four weeks to assess the growth promoting effects on nutrient utilization of either phytase, acetic acid or a mix of the two in the starter diet. The treatments (trt) were corn-soybean meal based as follows: 1. control diet, 0.35% of available P; 2. low P, 0.15% P-i: 3. as 2 plus 1000 phytase units/kg diet; 4. as 3 plus 1% acetic acid; and 5. as 1 plus 1% acetic acid. Supplementing phytase to the low P diet, significantly improved the ADG. There was no difference in growth rate between normal P level and low P plus phytase. A significant additional effect was obtained when acetic acid was incorporated in diet 3. Apparent digestibility of P and calcium (Ca) were significantly increased by both phytase and acetic acid, and by phytase-acetate supplementation. These results showed an additional effect of acetic acid combined with phytase in promoting better mineral digestibility. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.