Interactive effects of dietary calcium, phosphorus and copper on performance and liver stores of pigs

Three experiments involving 304 pigs were conducted to determine the related effects of copper (Cu), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) on the performance and liver Cu stores of growing-finishing pigs. Rate and efficiency of gain were improved by the addition of 250 ppm of Cu to the diets. Improvements in rate of gain averaged 6.6% (652 vs 696 g/d) to 60.5 kg body weight and 1.7% (713 vs 725 g/d) to 94.5 kg body weight. Feed:gain ratio was improved by 1.4% to 60.5 kg and 1.6% to 94.5 kg body weight when Cu was added to the diet. Increasing the dietary Ca and P levels from .65% Ca and .55% P to 1.2% Ca and .86 or 1.0% P resulted in increased (P less than .01) growth rate to 60 and 95 kg (649 vs 699 g/d and 700 vs 737 g/d, respectively), but feed efficiency was not affected (2.86 vs 2.84 and 3.18 vs 3.17 kg feed/kg gain, respectively.) Feeding the higher Ca and P levels resulted in increased liver Cu levels in pigs fed 250 ppm Cu (189 vs 323 ppm), but Ca and P did not affect liver Cu of pigs fed low Cu diets (29 vs 28 ppm). When dietary Ca and P were varied independently, the high Ca level increased liver Cu, but P had little effect on liver Cu. Increasing the dietary P level partially alleviated the effect of Ca on liver Cu.     

Seasonal changes in serum calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D concentrations in llamas and alpacas

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the interaction of season and age on serum calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D3 concentrations in llamas and alpacas. ANIMALS: 23 clinically normal llamas and 7 alpacas. PROCEDURES: Animals were assigned to 1 of the 3 following groups on the basis of age at the start of the study: adult (age, > or = 24 months; n = 8), yearling (> 12 but < 20 months; 5), and neonate (< 6 months; 17). Twelve serum samples were obtained at monthly intervals. Calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D3 concentrations were measured, and the calcium-to-phosphorus concentration (Ca:P) ratio calculated. Effect of season and age on each of these variables was determined. RESULTS: Vitamin D3 concentrations varied significantly as a function of season; the highest and lowest concentrations were detected September through October and February through March, respectively. The seasonal decrease in vitamin D3 concentration was significantly greater in neonates and yearlings, compared with adults. Serum phosphorus concentration decreased as a function of age, with the most significant seasonal change detected in the neonate group. The Ca:P ratio in neonates varied between 1.1 and 1.3 except during winter months when it increased to > or = 2.0. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Mean vitamin D3 concentration varied by > 6 fold in neonatal and yearling llamas and alpacas and > 3 fold in adult animals as a function of season. These results support the hypothesis that seasonal alterations in vitamin D3 concentrations are a key factor in the development of hypophosphatemic rickets in llamas and alpacas.     

Amino acid excesses for young pigs: effects of excess methionine, tryptophan, threonine or leucine

Five experiments involving 359 weanling (8 kg) pigs were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary excesses of DL-methionine (Met), L-tryptophan (Trp), L-threonine (Thr) or L-leucine (Leu) when added to a 20% crude protein corn-soybean meal (C-SBM) diet. Experiments involved supplementing the basal diet with 0, .5, 1.0, 2.0 or 4.0% excesses of Met, Trp or Thr, or in the case of Leu, a 0, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 or 6.0% excess. Levels of .5 and 1.0% excess Met did not depress feed intake (FI), weight gain (G) or gain/feed (G/F); 2.0 and 4.0% additions, however, depressed both FI and G but not G/F. Free Met in blood plasma increased linearly as dietary Met level increased, reaching over a 100-fold elevation at the highest Met level fed. Plasma Thr and serine (Ser) increased, and glycine (Gly) decreased, with each added increment of Met. With Trp, only the 4.0% addition depressed FI and G (but not G/F). None of the levels of excess Thr depressed performance. Excess Thr, in fact, tended to increase G/F. Free Thr, Ser and Gly in plasma increased linearly as graded increments of excess Thr were added to the diet. With Leu, a 6% addition depressed weight gain and food intake (but not G/F) but 1, 2 or 4% excesses were without effect. Plasma free Leu increased linearly while free isoleucine and valine decreased as graded increments of Leu were added to the diet. These results suggest that pigs can tolerate considerable excesses of Met, Trp, Thr and Leu without experiencing decreased voluntary feed intake or weight gain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Response of young horses in training to varying concentrations of dietary calcium and phosphorus

This experiment was conducted to determine if additional mineral supplementation during early training would increase mineral retention and improve the strength of bone as indicated by the mineral content of the third metacarpal. Twelve previously untrained Quarter Horse geldings were randomly divided into two groups, broke to ride, trained to gallop on the track and maintained in training for four 28-day periods. One group of four horses served as controls and was fed a ration averaging 28.3 g of Ca/day and 21.9 g P/day while in training. Eight other horses were fed a ration averaging 34.9 g Ca/day and 26.4 g P/day while in training. Feed, feces and urine were analyzed to determine mineral balance. Radiographs were taken of the left front leg to examine bone density as indicated by radiographic bone aluminum equivalence (RBAE). The high mineral treatment group retained more Ca than controls (P<.05) at days 56 and 84. An increase in Ca retention would prove beneficial in facilitating the bone remodeling process and overall skeletal growth. Additionally, the high mineral group had a greater increase in total RBAE (P<.05) when compared to the control group. Hence, it appears that benefit was derived from feeding the greater amount of Ca to the young racehorse at the onset of training.     

The calcium and phosphorus requirements of laying hens

Two experiments were carried out with a modern hybrid laying strain to establish the calcium requirement for maximum egg production. The first experiment, with three calcium concentrations of 1.7, 2.8 and 3.9 per cent indicated that with 0.55 Per cent dietary phosphorus the requirement for calcium was between 1.7 per cent and 2.8 per cent. Dietary phosphorus supplements added to the mixed cereal diets containing 0.55 per cent phosphorus were without effect on production or the conclusions reached. In a subsequent experiment with four dietary calcium concentrations between 2.3 and 3.3 per cent there was no significant improvement in egg production above 2.6 per cent calcium.

In both experiments the lower production at the lower levels of calcium concentration was associated with reduced food intake. Measurements made in the first experiment showed an increasing shell thickness round the equator of the egg with increasing dietary calcium. In this experiment also a small practical test concerned with cracking of the egg shell in boiling water, indicated that incidence of cracks did not alter as the laying cycle progressed and that resistance to cracking was greatest at the highest dietary calcium concentration.     

Serum copper, zinc, calcium and phosphorus concentrations of calves stressed by bovine respiratory disease and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis

The relationship between serum minerals and stress and(or) disease has not been fully evaluated in beef cattle. Two trials were conducted to determine the changes in serum Cu and Zn during market-transit stress and(or) disease. Two additional trials were conducted to determine the changes in serum Cu and Zn after inoculation with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV), with one of the trials determining the changes in serum Ca and P. Trials 1 (n = 80) and 2 (n = 100) utilized calves that were handled through a normal market-transit system and transported 1,967 km to the feedlot. Trials 3 (n = 37) and 4 (n = 8) used calves that were sero-negative to IBRV and then challenged with 2.7 x 10(5) plaque-forming units of the virus. Serum samples were collected at specified intervals and serum minerals were measured for each trial. Serum Zn for morbid or IBRV-challenged calves was decreased by 34, 57, 29 and 15% (P less than .05) for the four trials, respectively, at peak morbidity. Serum Cu of morbid or IBRV-challenged calves increased 5, 15, 40 and 33% for the four trials, respectively, at peak morbidity. Feed intakes were lower during morbidity for market-transit trials and after IBRV inoculation. Lower feed intake could partially explain the decrease in serum Zn; however, when feed intake was held constant, serum Zn concentration still decreased. Serum Zn decreased and serum Cu increased during market-transit morbidity or after IBRV.     

The effects of calcium,phosphorus and zinc supplementation on reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows in Tanzania

The effects of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) supplementation on reproductive performance of grazing dairy cows was studied. Forty-eight cows in their first to third parity were allocated to eight groups of 6 animals each, based on stage of lactation and milk yield. Groups 1 (control), 2 (Ca), 3 (P) and 4 (Zn) received, respectively, no mineral supplement, 10 g Ca, 8 g P and 400 mg Zn. The rest of the groups received a combination of Ca/P, Ca/Zn, P/Zn or Ca/P/Zn. Animals were drenched daily. Ovarian activity was determined by progesterone concentrations in milk. Prepartum body condition score (BCS) measured using scale 1–5 was 2.5–3.5. Reproductive problems were observed in all groups except that supplemented with Ca. Cows supplemented with Ca, P, Ca/P, Ca/Zn and Ca/P/Zn had significantly (p < 0.05) shorter interval (30 days) from calving to resumption of oestrus as compared to control (69 days). Intervals from calving to conception and between calvings did not differ significantly between groups (p > 0.05), but were shorter in Ca-supplemented cows. Furthermore, cows in groups 2 and 3 needed an average of 2 services per conception against 3 for cows in other groups. Hence, supplementation with Ca, P and Zn of deficient dairy cows appears to improve reproductive performance.     

The influence of gestational dietary calcium on serum 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol in sows and their pigs

Fifteen multiparous sows (three groups of five) were studied during one gestation-lactation cycle to measure the influence of dietary Ca (.5, .8[control], and 1.1%) on 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1, 25-(OH)2D3) in serum and colostrum of the sows and serum of their pigs. Concentrations of 1,25-(OH)2D3 and Ca, Mg, P, Cu, and Zn were determined on d 15 and 45 of gestation, at parturition, and at 3 wk postpartum in sow serum and at birth and d 10 and 21 in pig serum. Colostrum was assayed for 1,25-(OH)2D3. Serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 in sows was affected inversely (P less than .05) by dietary Ca within d 15 of gestation and was correlated (r = -.88) with serum Ca during gestation and lactation. Serum Ca was correlated (r = .52) with dietary Ca at d 15 and 45 of gestation and at farrowing. Sow serum Mg was inversely related (r = -.49) to serum Ca during gestation and early lactation. Serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 of the pigs at birth ranged from 38.7 to 44.2 pg/ml was decreased (P less than .05) by 1.1% maternal Ca intake. Sow colostrum 1,25-(OH)2D3 was related (P less than .05) inversely (r = -.40) to sow dietary Ca and directly (r = .90) to sow serum 1,25-(OH)2D3. Serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 of 10- and 21-d-old pigs was inversely related (P less than .05) to their dams' dietary Ca. These results indicate that 1,25-(OH)2D3 production in sows is quickly affected by modest changes in dietary Ca.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of dietary calcium, phosphorus, calcium: phosphorus ratio and vitamin K on performance, bone strength and blood clotting status of pigs

Three factorial experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of various Ca:P ratios (1:1, 2:1 and 3:1) in diets having deficient (.3%), adequate (.6%) and excess (.9%) levels of dietary P on rate and efficiency of gain and bone strength of 192 pigs from 18 to 40 kg BW. A corn-soybean meal diet fortified with minerals and vitamins (but not vitamin K) was fed. Levels of Ca and P were achieved by adjusting the amounts of dicalcium phosphate and ground limestone in the diet. The corn was free of detectable mycotoxins. A hemorrhagic condition occurred in Exp. 1 in pigs fed the higher dietary Ca levels; all eight of the pigs fed 2.7% dietary Ca died of internal hemorrhage within the initial 28 d of the experiment. Vitamin K (5 mg menadione [as menadione dimethylpyrimidinole bisulfite]/kg) was added to half of the diets of the remaining animals and the experiment was continued for an additional 14 d. Prothrombin and whole blood clotting times were increased (P less than .01) in pigs fed high Ca without vitamin K but were normal in pigs fed high Ca with added vitamin K. Similar trends in clotting times occurred in a second experiment. A third experiment was conducted to determine whether the addition of vitamin K could reverse the hemorrhagic condition induced by feeding high dietary Ca for 28 d. As in the other two experiments, clotting times were increased (P less than .01) in pigs fed high Ca and no vitamin K. Addition of vitamin K after 28 d resulted in a return to basal prothrombin values by d 50. In regard to the original objectives, increasing the Ca:P ratio from 1:1 to 2:1 or 3:1 tended to reduce rate and efficiency of gain at all levels of P. Increasing the Ca:P ratio to 2:1 resulted in increased bone strength only when P was at or above the dietary requirement.     

Dietary zinc oxide in weaned pigs - effects on performance, tissue concentrations, morphology, neutrophil functions and faecal microflora

The uptake and distribution of zinc in tissues and the effects of 2500 ppm dietary zinc oxide on health, faecal microflora, and the functions of circulating neutrophils were evaluated in weaned pigs. One group was fed a zinc supplement diet and another group was used as a control. All pigs remained healthy throughout the study, but the supplemented animals showed better performance than the controls. The serum zinc values rose rapidly. At autopsy, carried out at the age of 63 days, the zinc concentrations in liver tissue were 4·5 times higher, and in renal tissue two times higher in the supplemented group than in controls (P<0·001). Microscopic examination showed increased lipid accumulation in hepatocytes from supplemented pigs. No effect on the number of excreted Escherichia coli and enterococci per gram faeces or on the functions of circulating neutrophils was observed. Dietary supplementation with 2500 ppm ZnO for up to two weeks after weaning appears to be potentially beneficial in the prevention of postweaning diarrhoea in pigs.     

Effects of dietary calcium:phosphorus ratios on apparent absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the small intestine, cecum, and colon of pigs

Thirty-two crossbred barrows were used to investigate the effects of dietary Ca:total P (tP) ratios in phytase-supplemented diets on the apparent absorption of P and Ca in the small intestine, cecum, and colon. Three Ca:tP ratio treatments (1.5:1, 1.3:1, or 1.0:1) were created by adjusting the amount of ground limestone added to the basal low-P grower (.39% tP including .07% added inorganic P) and finisher (.32% tP without added inorganic P) diets. All low-P ratio diets were supplemented with Natuphos phytase at 500 units/kg. A positive control diet without phytase supplementation contained adequate P and Ca to meet dietary requirements. At 123 kg, the pigs were slaughtered and the contents of ileum, cecum, and colon were collected. Lowering the dietary Ca:tP ratio in the diets containing phytase linearly increased (P < .01) the apparent absorption (% and g/d) of P in the small intestine, but Ca absorption was not affected. Pigs fed the low-P diet with a Ca:tP ratio of 1.0:1 had an apparent absorption (g/d) of P or Ca similar to that of pigs fed the control diet, which was adequate in Ca and P. Averaged across all diets, the apparent absorption of P was highest when measured at the cecum, and the apparent absorption of Ca was highest when measured at the colon. In conclusion, lowering the dietary Ca:tP ratio to 1.0:1 in a low-P diet containing phytase increased the apparent absorption of P in the small intestine. Furthermore, a significant amount of P was absorbed in the cecum.     

低蛋白、低钙磷日粮添加苯甲酸对生长肥猪生长性能及钙磷代谢的影响

文章旨在研究日粮降低粗蛋白质、钙和磷水平,同时添加苯甲酸对仔猪生长性能、钙磷代谢的影响。试验采用2×2多因素试验设计,选择平均体重接近12 kg的保育猪500头,分为4组,每组5个重复,每个重复25头猪。试验日粮共4个,即低水平日粮(低蛋白、低钙磷)组,高水平日粮组(高蛋白、高钙磷),低水平日粮+15 g/kg苯甲酸组,高水平日粮+15 g/kg苯甲酸组。低水平日粮组较高水平日粮组显著降低了仔猪的生长速度(P <0.05),使25 kg阶段仔猪的采食量显著降低了13%(P <0.05)。低水平日粮添加苯甲酸较较高水平日粮组显著降低了25和40 kg猪尿液pH(P <0.05)。低水平组显著降低了钙、磷摄入量及粪中钙磷含量(P <0.05)。日粮添加苯甲酸可以显著降低尿钙排泄量和提高尿磷排泄量(P <0.05)。低水平日粮显著提高了血清钙水平及碱性磷酸酶活性(P <0.05)。低水平日粮组显著降低了血清磷水平(P <0.05),而高水平日粮+苯甲酸组较高水平日粮组显著提高了血清碱性磷酸酶活力和血清磷水平(P <0.05)。日粮添加苯甲酸可以影响磷的消化率,提供仔猪生长早期血清碱性磷酸酶活力,对生长后期猪的骨矿化无显著影响。     

Re-evaluation of calcium and phosphorus requirements in aged laying hens

1. A series of 5 trials was conducted with 401- to 650-d-old Lohmann, Yafa (local breed with brown eggshells) and Yarkon (local breed with white eggshells) hens fed for 56 to 84 d with diets containing 25 to 50 g/kg calcium (Ca) and 4.5 to 7.6 g/kg phosphorus (P). 2. Increasing dietary Ca from 24-25 to 36-40 g/kg improved egg production, shell weight (SW) and shell thickness (ST), and decreased mortality. 3. Increasing dietary Ca to 48 to 50 g/kg did not affect egg production but increased SW and/or ST. In one out of the 4 trials, this effect was not significant, most likely because of the high shell quality of the eggs from the Yafa hens used for this trial. 4. Dietary P content of 4.5 g/kg (1.0 g/kg added inorganic P) appears to be sufficient for maintaining egg production and shell quality in aged laying hen given 36 to 40 g/kg Ca. 5. Increasing dietary Ca above 40 g/kg may require a higher dietary P content.     

Serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and calciotropic hormones in donkeys

OBJECTIVE: To provide reference values for serum biochemical variables that are used for evaluation of mineral metabolism in donkeys and compare values with those in horses. ANIMALS: 18 donkeys and 18 horses. PROCEDURES: Total calcium (tCa), total magnesium (tMg), and inorganic phosphorus (P) concentrations were measured in serum samples via spectrophotometry. Ionized calcium (iCa) and magnesium (iMg) concentrations were quantified with selective electrodes. By use of a micropartition system, tCa and tMg were fractionated to separate protein-bound (pCa, pMg) and ultrafiltrable fractions. Complexed calcium (cCa) and magnesium (cMg) concentrations were calculated by substracting ionized fractions from ultrafiltrable fractions. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitriol (CTR) concentrations were measured via radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Serum tCa concentration in donkeys (3.37 +/- 0.21 mmol/L) was composed of pCa (1.59 +/- 0.21 mmol/L [47.0 +/- 4.2%]), iCa (1.69 +/- 0.04 mmol/L [50.4 +/- 3.0%]), and cCa (0.09 +/- 0.08 mmol/L [2.6 +/- 2.9%]). Serum tMg concentration (1.00 +/- 0.08 mmol/L) was fractioned in pMg (0.23 +/- 0.08 mmol/L [23.4 +/- 8.1%]), iMg (0.59 +/- 0.04 mmol/L [58.8 +/- 5.1%]), and cMg (0.18 +/- 0.08 mmol/L [17.8 +/- 7.2%]). Serum concentrations of P (1.14 +/- 0.30 mmol/L), PTH (20.4 +/- 21.2 pg/mL), and CTR (13.4 +/- 5.9 pg/mL) were determined. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Serum variables of mineral metabolism in donkeys were within reference ranges for horses. However, when compared with horses, donkeys had higher iCa, cMg, and CTR and lower pMg and PTH concentrations.     

Effects of supplemental dietary phytase and pharmacological concentrations of zinc on growth performance and tissue zinc concentrations of weanling pigs

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of phytase, excess Zn, or their combination in diets for nursery pigs. In all experiments, treatments were replicated with five to seven pens of six to seven pigs per pen, dietary Ca and available P (aP) levels were decreased by 0.1% when phytase was added to the diets, excess Zn was added as ZnO, a basal level of 127 mg/kg of Zn (Zn sulfate) was present in all diets, and the experimental periods were 19 to 21 d. In Exp. 1, pigs (5.7 kg and 18 d of age) were fed two levels of phytase (0 or 500 phytase units/kg) and three levels of excess Zn (0, 1,000, or 2,000 ppm) in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement. Added Zn linearly increased ADG and ADFI during Phase 1 (P = 0.01 to 0.06), Phase 2 (P = 0.02 to 0.09), and overall (P = 0.01 to 0.02). Gain:feed was linearly increased by Zn during Phase 1 (P = 0.01) but not at other times. Dietary phytase decreased ADG in pigs fed 1,000 or 2,000 ppm Zn during Phase 2 (Zn linear x phytase interaction; P = 0.10), did not affect (P = 0.27 to 0.62) ADFI during any period, and decreased G:F during Phase 2 (P = 0.01) and for the overall (P = 0.07) period. Plasma Zn was increased by supplemental Zn (Zn quadratic, P = 0.01) but not affected (P = 0.70) by phytase addition. In Exp. 2, pigs (5.2 kg and 18 d of age) were fed two levels of phytase (0 or 500 phytase units/kg) and two levels of Zn (0 or 2,000 ppm) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Supplemental Zn increased ADG and G:F during Phase 2 (P = 0.02 to 0.09) and overall (P = 0.07 to 0.08), but it had no effect (P = 0.11 to 0.89) on ADG during Phase 1 or ADFI during any period. Phytase supplementation increased ADG (P = 0.06) and G:F (P = 0.01) during Phase 2. Gain:feed was greatest for pigs fed 2,000 ppm Zn and phytase (Zn x phytase interaction; P = 0.01). Bone (d 20) and plasma Zn (d 7 and 20) were increased (P = 0.01) by added Zn but not affected (P = 0.51 to 0.90) by phytase. In Exp. 3, pigs (5.7 kg and 19 d of age) were fed a basal diet or the basal diet with Ca and aP levels decreased by 0.10% and these two diets with or without 500 phytase units/kg. Supplemental phytase had no effect (P = 0.21 to 0.81) on growth performance. Reduction of dietary Ca and aP decreased (P = 0.02 to 0.08) ADG, ADFI, and G:F for the overall data. These results indicate that excess dietary supplemental Zn increases ADG and plasma and bone Zn concentrations. Dietary phytase did not affect plasma or bone Zn concentrations.     

Phytase effects on the efficiency of utilisation and blood concentrations of phosphorus and calcium in Pekin ducks

1. The objective was to study the effects of a supplementation of a 6-phytase derived from the Peniophora lycii gene in the White Pekin duck. 2. In two balance studies, low-phosphorus (P) diets consisting mainly of maize, solvent extracted soybean meal and solvent extracted sunflower meal were supplemented with phytase up to concentrations of 1500 U/kg (Study 1) or 2000 U/kg (Study 2). Each diet (phytase level) was fed to 8 to 10 individually penned ducks. The intake and excretion of each animal was measured for 5 consecutive days when ducks were in their third week of life. Responses were described by nonlinear regression. 3. Although the basal diets from the two studies were similar in ingredient composition, efficiencies of P utilisation (P accretion/P intake x 100) for the unsupplemented basal diets were 39% in Study 1 and 30% in Study 2. Phytase supplementation significantly improved P utilisation up to levels of about 55% in both studies. A plateau in P utilisation with an increase in phytase supplementation was achieved in Study 2, but not in Study 1. The enzyme was more efficient in Study 2 than in Study 1 at low rates of supplementation. Utilisation of calcium (Ca) was significantly improved by phytase supplementation. Accretions of P and Ca increased at a constant ratio. 4. In a 5-week growth study, diets with an intentionally marginal P level were used. Diets were fed either unsupplemented or supplemented with 1000 or 10,000 U/kg of phytase. Eight pens of 10 sex-separated ducks each (4 pens per sex) were allocated to each dietary treatment. 5. Phytase significantly improved the growth of ducks of both sexes between d 1 and 21, but not between d 22 and 35. Feed conversion rate was not affected by treatment. Blood serum phosphate concentrations, but not calcium, were significantly increased by phytase supplementation. Blood concentrations of creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase remained unaffected while alanine aminotransferase was significantly reduced by phytase supplementation. 6. It was concluded that the efficacy of a microbial phytase varies even under similar experimental conditions. Differences in intrinsic phytase activity of maize/soybean meal-based diets may be responsible for this. The 6-phytase used has the potential to improve the utilisation of plant P in duck feeding. A plateau in response was reached above 1500 U/kg.