Danisco Animal Nutrition VIP Seminar at EPC Separated Phytase Fact from Fiction and Uncovered New Research On the Role of Additives in Poultry Gut Health

Danisco Animal Nutrition, a business division of DuPont Industrial BioSciences, hosted a VIP seminar before the main EPC conference kicked off on June 23. Dr. Peter Plumstead began the seminar with a presentation that separated the facts concerning nutrient release from phytase from the fiction. He stressed the importance of establishing robust estimates of calcium and phosphorus contributions when selecting phytase products and the necessity of species-specific matrix values. He also looked at how calcium levels and calcium sources can alter the efficacy of phytate P, cause metabolic imbalances,and alter phytase efficacy and matrix values in practice.

Dr. Luis Romero then addressed the vital role enzymes play in poultry gut health, citing recent research showing the positive impact made by multi-enzyme and enzyme/probiotic combination supplementation. 

The company also presented papers and posters at the main conference, centred on its innovative multi-enzyme portfolio, first launched over 25 years ago. Development Scientist, Dr. Ahmed Amerah, presented a parallel session on the extra digestibility and gut health benefits of using a combination of Xylanase and β-glucanase compared to single Xylanase application in complex broiler diets. His poster "Effects of different levels of rapeseed meal or sunflower meal and enzyme combination on the performance of broiler chickens fed wheat-based diets" was also on show at the conference.