Wutiporn Phromkunthong, Nutt Nuntapong, and Jacques Gabaudan

pp. 547 - 554

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted for 60 days to study the effects of the combination of microbial phytase and citric acid
on phosphorus utilization in Cyprinus carpio fingerlings. Four diets designated as diet without phytase or inorganic phosphorus supplementation (T1), with 1.1% MSP (T2), with 0.55% MSP and phytase (T3) and with 0.55% MSP, phytase and
citric acid (T4). Four replicate groups of 20 fish were fed two times daily until satiation. Phosphorus digestibility and retention
were measured as well as the fish growth performance. It is concluded from the results that the addition of microbial phytase
and citric acid enhances the availability of phosphorus from plant sources, improves bone mineralization, growth and feed
efficiency. Combining a low dose of citric acid to the phytase significantly increased the positive effects of the enzyme.