Total phosphorus, phytate and phytase activity of some cereals grown in Albania and used in non-ruminant feed rations

Abstract

A total of 16 cereal samples: 5 maize (Zea mais), 5 wheat (Triticum sp.), 3 barley (Hordeum sativum), 2 rye (Secale cereale), and 1 oat (Avena sativa), used in Albanian feed mills were quantitatively analyzed for phytase activity, phytate and total phosphorus. It was concluded that the number of feedstuffs showing significant phytase activity more than 100 FTU kg -1 was rather limited. Of the cereals analyzed, only rye (5384.3 ± 384.3) FTU kg -1, wheat (1156.8 ± 282.9) FTU kg -1 and barley (755.8 ± 134) FTU kg -1, were rich in phytase activity. All other feedstuffs analyzed: maize (44.3 ± 13.08) FTU kg -1 and oat (33.9 ±19.7) FTU kg -1 showed moderate phytase activity. Our results showed that phytase activity was not related to total phosphorus or phytate content. As expected, a significant relationship was found between phytate and total phosphorus, which confirms the overall opinion that phytate is the principal storage form of phosphorus in bran and seeds.