March 7, 2007

Danisco launches new highly-thermostable phytase
 

Press release
 

Danisco Animal Nutrition has launched a highly-thermostable phytase (Phyzyme XP TPT), the company said Mar 7 in its press release on the new technology.

Developed by Danisco, the new Thermo Protection Technology (TPT) applies to the phytase enzyme a coating which delivers strong protection from high temperatures that typically occur during the feed pelleting process, while rapidly releasing the enzyme activity in the animal's gut without compromising animal performance.

Independent pelleting trials conducted at Technological Institute in Kolding, Denmark, showed consistently high stability after conditioning and pelleting at temperatures up to 95 deg C (203 deg F). The thermostable phytase was included in feed prior to conditioning and pelleting at temperatures of 90 deg C (194 deg F) or 95 deg C (203 deg F).

Phytase activity present in the feed before and after conditioning/pelleting was analysed and compared. After conditioning and pelleting, the phytase activity remaining in the feed was 99 percent at 90 deg C and 96 percent at 95 deg C when expressed on a relative basis to the unprocessed mash feed.

The trials also compared the thermostability of Phyzyme XP TPT to another commercially available phytase product that is claimed to have similar thermostable properties. In contrast, the corresponding phytase activity remaining in the feed after conditioning/pelleting was 70-75 percent at 90-95 deg C for this product.

Dr Andrew Harker, Danisco's marketing and technical services director, commented, "Proven enzyme thermostability remains a key requirement for our customers. This new coating technology delivers a free-flowing, dust-free phytase granulate that can be used easily and confidently in the vast majority of feed manufacturing processes globally."

Harker added that the new generation phytase feed enzyme has proven to be at least 20 percent more effective than traditional phytases, offering excellent thermostability, performance and value.

The phytase market is estimated to be worth more than US$200 million, growing at a rate of over 5 percent per annum.  Danisco Animal Nutrition entered this market four years ago with a new generation phytase - Phyzyme XP, developed under a strategic alliance with Diversa Corporation. While Phyzyme XP is proven to be substantially more effective in the animal than traditional phytases, Danisco had until now, been excluded from the dominant pelleted feed market segment, which demands a heat stable granulate phytase able to survive the pelleting process.