Effect of a Multi-Carbohydrase and Phytase Complex on the Ileal and Total Tract Digestibility of Nutrients in Cannulated Growing Pigs

SIMPLE SUMMARY: It is well accepted that monogastric livestock lack phytase in their gastrointestinal tracts. Phytate (myo-inositol hexaphosphate, IP6) is the principal storage form of phosphorus (P) in many plant feeds, which can barely be used as a P source for animals. In addition, IP6 reduces the utilization of the proteins, amino acids, and minerals. Most of the IP6 is in the indigestible fibrous part of cereal grains, which also contain non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) that might also be beneficial for the availability of P, proteins, and amino acid. In this study, the multi-carbohydrase and phytase complex (MCPC) was tested to evaluate the effects on the ileal and total tract nutrients digestibility in growing pigs fed with low and high levels of phytate. The dietary supplementation of the MCPC improved the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of P and calcium (Ca), along with the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude fat, P, and Ca both in low and high phytate diet. Moreover, only a trend in enhanced protein digestibility was observed in the low phytate diet. In summary, the MCPC can be used in the diet of growing pigs which mainly promote the ADI and ATTD of P and Ca, which improve the efficiency of pig production. ABSTRACT: The current study evaluated the influence of a multi-carbohydrase and phytase complex (MCPC) on the ileal and total tract digestibility of nutrients in growing pigs. A total of eight barrows (initial BW = 30.7 ± 1.1 kg) were surgically fitted with a T-cannula at the distal ileum and randomly allotted to four groups. The experiment was conducted according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design, each period lasting 10 days. Pigs were fed four experimental diets, which consisted of two basal diets (BD1, low phytate; BD2, high phytate) with or without MCPC containing at least 1800 U xylanase, 6600 U α-arabinofuranosidase, 1244 U β-glucanase, and 1000 U phytase per/kg corn–soybean meal with 15% corn distillers based diet. The high phytate diet reduced (p < 0.05) the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of crude protein by 1.4% and the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of organic matter, crude protein, and gross energy by 1.7, 2.3, and 1.9%, respectively, and tended to decrease (p = 0.10) the ATTD of Ca by 17.3%, relative to the low phytate diet. The dietary supplementation of the MCPC increased (p < 0.05) the AID of phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) by 34.2% and 31.1% for BD1 and 26.7% and 41.3% for BD2, respectively, and increased (p < 0.05) ATTD of crude fat, P, and Ca by 1.4%, 45.6%, and 9.6% for BD1 and 3.1%, 66.0%, and 52.7% for BD2, respectively. The MCPC supplementation did not significantly increase the AID and (or) ATTD of crude protein, organic matter, and starch. In conclusion, the dietary supplementation of the MCPC could improve the AID of P and Ca and the ATTD of crude fat, P, and Ca.