Effects of the Dietary Microbial Phytase Supplementation on Bioavailability of Phosphorus in Juvenile Olive Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus Fed Soybean Meal based Diets

An 8 weeks feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary microbial phytase (P) supplementation on nutrient digestibility, and body composition in juvenile olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus fed soybean meal-based diets. Seven experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric to contain 50.0% crude protein (CP) and 16.7 kJ of available energy/g with or without dietary phytase supplementation. White fish meal (FM) provided 92.4% of the total protein in the basal diet ($S_0$), in the other 6 diets, 30% or 40% FM protein was replaced by soybean meal: 70% FM + 30% soybean meal ($S_{30}$); 70% FM + 30% SM + 1000 U phytase/kg diet ($S_{30}P_{1000}$); 70% FM + 30% SM + 2000 U phytase/kg diet ($S_{30}P_{2000}$); 60% FM + 40% SM ($S_{40}$); 60% FM + 40% SM + 1000 U phytase/kg diet ($S_{40}P_{1000}$); and 60% FM + 40% SM + 2000 U phytase/kg diet ($S_{40}P_{2000}$). After two weeks of the conditioning period, triplicate groups of 25 fish initially averaging $6.15{\pm}0.04g$ ($mean{\pm}S.D.$) were randomly distributed into the aquarium and were fed one of the experimental diets for 8 weeks. After feeding trial, supplementation of phytase significantly improved the apparent digestibility coefficients of phosphorus in flounder diets (P<0.05) containing 30% and 40% soybean meal regardless the levels. However, phytase had no significant influence on growth performance and whole body composition of fish. Based on the experimental results, we conclude that dietary supplementation of phytase could improve the apparent digestibility coefficient of phosphorus in olive flounder.