ISSN:
1365-2109
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Four commercially available proteolytic enzymes active over a wide pH range were assessed as shrimp feed additives. Feeds were formulated to contain 1% of the test enzymes by weight. A feed of the same composition with no enzyme addition served as a control. In vitro feed protein digestibility of the feeds was determined using a modified pepsin digestibility method. In vitro protein digestibility results indicated that commercially available proteases added to a shrimp feed formulation and then hot pelleted/dried did retain enzyme activity. Feeds exhibited low weight losses through leaching (≤ 10.9%) and low or no losses of protein content (≤ 2.7%), indicating that the test feeds were available in their entirety to the shrimp. An 8-week feeding trial using the enzyme-supplemented feeds was conducted to evaluate shrimp growth. Mean shrimp survival was high for all treatments (〉 90%). One-way analysis of variance did not detect significant differences (P 〉 0.05) among feeds in terms of survival, weight gain, specific growth rates and feed–weight gain ratios. Although in vitro digestibility indicated the presence of active enzymes in the feed, the feeding trial revealed that shrimp growth was not enhanced by the inclusion of proteases in these feeds. This study provides sufficient proof to emphasize the importance of in vivo investigations before enzyme-supplemented feeds are used with shrimp.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2109.1999.00333.x
