Formulating with Quantum 5000 – Poultry 

Formulating with... 
Quantum 5000 – Poultry

Quantum is an enhanced E.coli-derived phytase, developed for use in animal feeds. In the
animal, Quantum will degrade the phytate found in plant-based ingredients, releasing
phosphorus (P) that would otherwise be unavailable. This will also facilitate the release of
calcium (and other mineral) ions that would typically chelate and be bound to the phytate
thus being unavailable for absorption. In addition, phytate has been shown to directly affect
endogenous secretions by the animal and to bind to digestive enzymes and other nutrients
in the animal gut. Both of these effects mean that the action of phytase in breaking down
the phytate will release or spare extra energy and amino acids to the animal.

To get full economic benefit from phytase, it is important to correctly formulate diets to allow
for this release of additional nutrients. Traditionally phytases have been used at 500 U/kg of
feed for all poultry species except layers / breeders where 300 U/kg is used. Most end-users
assume this level of phytase will replace up to approximately 1 kg/t of available P and
calcium, as well as varying amounts of energy and amino acids. However, Quantum will
deliver more than many competitive phytases. It is important to dose phytases at the
economic optimum, taking into account the cost-benefits in terms of improved animal
production, rather than maintain a constant inclusion rate.

The animal response to phytases has been shown to be logarithmic. Therefore, as feed
prices and thus the value of increased animal productivity increase (as they have done in
the past years), it is clear that it is more economically attractive to dose phytase at a higher
level. However, as the dose response curve is not linear, the formulator needs to ensure that
the appropriate matrix values are assigned to Finase EC when the inclusion rate varies.

For all poultry species the matrix values assigned to the recommended dose of phytase will
vary depending on the efficacy of that particular enzyme, and this will be influenced by
factors such as the dose rate, stability in the gastro-intestinal tract, activity at physiological
pH, etc. The addition of 500 U/kg to broiler, turkey and duck diets and 300 U/kg to layer and
breeder diets will release nutrients as shown below in Tables 1 & 2, as determined from a
database consisting of over 1000 in vivo trial data points.
Table 1 Nutrient release by Quantum in broilers, turkeys and duck diets
500 FTU/kg 750 FTU/kg 1000 FTU/kg
Increment (relative to 500 FTU/kg) 100% 118% 130%
Available P (kg/t) 1.30 1.53 1.69
Calcium (kg/t) 1.43 1.68 1.86
Sodium (kg/t) 0.30 0.35 0.39
Lysine (g/t)* 150 180 200
Methionine (g/t)* 33 39 43
Cysteine (g/t)* 297 351 387
Methionine + Cysteine (g/t)* 330 390 430
Threonine (g/t)* 290 342 377
Tryptophan (g/t)* 170 200 220
Glycine + Serine (g/t)* 490 580 640
Arginine (g/t)* 110 130 150
Valine (g/t)* 200 236 260
Isoleucine (g/t)* 220 260 290
Crude Protein (g/t)* 3650 4300 4760
ME (MJ/t) 188 222 247
ME (kcal/t) 45000 53000 59000
*Apparent ileal digestible values

Increasing the addition rate of phytase will result in a non-linear increase; for example a 50%
increase (e.g. 500 – 750 FTU/kg) will increase nutrient availability by 18%, while doubling
phytase addition will increase nutrient release by 30% (Tables 1 & 2).

Table 2 Nutrient release by Quantum in layer and breeder diets

300 FTU/kg 400 FTU/kg 500 FTU/kg
Increment (relative to 300 FTU/kg) 100% 111% 120%
Available P (kg/t) 1.30 1.44 1.56
Calcium (kg/t) 1.43 1.59 1.70
Sodium (kg/t) 0.30 0.33 0.36
Lysine (g/t)* 150 170 180
Methionine (g/t)* 33 36 40
Cysteine (g/t)* 297 327 356
Methionine + Cysteine (g/t)* 330 363 396
Threonine (g/t)* 290 320 300
Tryptophan (g/t)* 170 189 204
Glycine + Serine (g/t)* 490 544 588
Arginine (g/t)* 110 122 132
Valine (g/t)* 200 222 140
Isoleucine (g/t)* 220 244 164
Crude Protein (g/t)* 3650 4050 4350
ME (MJ/t) 188 209 226
ME (kcal/t) 45000 50000 54000
*Apparent ileal digestible values

3 Woodstock Court, Blenheim Road, The information given in this publication is, to the
best of our knowledge, true and accurate.
Marlborough Business Park, Marlborough, However, since conditions of use are beyond our
Wiltshire, SN8 4AN. United Kingdom control, no warranty or representation is given or
implied in respect of any recommendations or
T +44(0)1672 517650 F +44(0)1672 517660 suggestions set out herein, or that any use of the
  E [email protected] W www.ab-vista.com product will not infringe any intellectual property.
In summary, to optimise use in poultry diets, the phytase dose rate should increase as feed
raw material prices go up. However, as the response to phytase is non-linear, this will require
different matrix values to be assigned to Quantum at different dose rates (Tables 3 & 4).

Table 3 Matrix values for Quantum 5000 at different inclusion rates in broilers, turkeys and
duck diets
500 FTU/kg 750 FTU/kg 1000 FTU/kg
(100 g/t) (150 g/t) (200 g/t)
Available P (%) 1300 1020 845
Calcium (%) 1430 1122 930
Sodium (%) 300 233 195
Lysine (%)* 150 120 100
Methionine (%)* 33 26 22
Cysteine (%)* 297 234 194
Methionine + Cysteine (%)* 330 260 216
Threonine (%)* 290 228 189
Tryptophan (%)* 170 133 110
Glycine + Serine (%)* 490 387 320
Arginine (%)* 110 87 75
Valine (%)* 200 157 130
Isoleucine (%)* 220 173 145
Crude Protein (%)* 3650 2867 2380
ME (MJ/kg) 1880 1480 1235
ME (kcal/kg) 450140 353333 295000
*Apparent ileal digestible values

Before assuming a benefit when adding phytase to any diet, it is important to ensure that
there is enough phytate present on which the enzyme can act. For example, when adding
750 FTU/kg of Quantum to a broiler diet, it would be prudent to ensure that there is at least
3.0 kg/t of phytate-P (e.g. total P – available P) to allow the release of 1.5 kg/t additional P.
In cereal-based diets with low levels of animal proteins included, this is usually not a problem.

3 Woodstock Court, Blenheim Road, The information given in this publication is, to the
best of our knowledge, true and accurate.
Marlborough Business Park, Marlborough, However, since conditions of use are beyond our
Wiltshire, SN8 4AN. United Kingdom control, no warranty or representation is given or
implied in respect of any recommendations or
T +44(0)1672 517650 F +44(0)1672 517660 suggestions set out herein, or that any use of the
  E [email protected] W www.ab-vista.com product will not infringe any intellectual property.
Table 4 Matrix values for Quantum 5000 at different inclusion rates in layer and breeder
diets
300 U/kg 400 U/kg 500 U/kg
(60 g/t) (80 g/t) (100 g/t)
Available P (%) 2167 1800 1560
Calcium (%) 2383 1980 1700
Sodium (%) 500 412 360
Lysine (%)* 250 212 180
Methionine (%)* 55 45 40
Cysteine (%)* 495 409 356
Methionine + Cysteine (%)* 550 454 396
Threonine (%)* 283 400 348
Tryptophan (%)* 817 236 204
Glycine + Serine (%)* 183 680 588
Arginine (%)* 333 152 132
Valine (%)* 367 278 240
Isoleucine (%)* 6083 305 264
Crude Protein (%)* 3133 5062 4350
ME (MJ/kg) 750000 2612 2260
ME (kcal/kg) 376490 625000 540000
*Apparent ileal digestible values

As phytases improve energy and amino acid digestibility mainly by improving the apparent
digestibility of feed or endogenous protein, starch and fat in the proximal gut, the size of the
undigested portion of these nutrients dictates the magnitude of response. For example, in a
conventional diet there may be 1200 kcal/kg (5 MJ/kg) of undigested energy which leaves
the ileum and represents a net loss to the animal. Around 60 – 70% of this energy is in the
form of non-starch polysaccharides (fibre) with limited potential as an energy source.
However, some 400 kcal/kg (1.7 MJ/kg) leaves the ileum as undigested protein, starch and
fat. Up to 25% of this fraction may be rendered apparently digestible by the use of phytases,
either through better digestion per se or through lower endogenous losses. Thus, it is the size
of this undigested fraction that is primarily responsible for the energy and amino acid effects
of an added phytase. If xylanases, antibiotic growth promoters and other additives that
improve animal performance through better nutrient digestion are also present in a diet,
they reduce this undigested fraction and thus reduce the response to phytases. This should
be considered in the energy recommendation for phytases. We therefore recommend that
when using both phytases and xylanases in the same diet, the matrix value is increased by
80% of the sum of the recommended value of any nutrient (e.g. energy) where both
enzymes have an effect. Where only one of the enzymes has an effect (e.g. P digestibility), it
is still appropriate to take this full value.

For additional formulation support, please contact AB Vista or your local Quantum
distributor. www.abvista.com

3 Woodstock Court, Blenheim Road, The information given in this publication is, to the
best of our knowledge, true and accurate.
Marlborough Business Park, Marlborough, However, since conditions of use are beyond our
Wiltshire, SN8 4AN. United Kingdom control, no warranty or representation is given or
implied in respect of any recommendations or
T +44(0)1672 517650 F +44(0)1672 517660 suggestions set out herein, or that any use of the
  E [email protected] W www.ab-vista.com product will not infringe any intellectual property.