Effects of Dietary Carbohydrase Supplementation on Performance and Apparent Digestibility Coefficients in Pacific White Shrimp, <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i>

Abstract

Abstract A growth trial and a digestibility trial were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of carbohydrase supplemented to practical shrimp feeds. The 5‐wk growth trial investigated the effects of carbohydrase supplementation at 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, and 0.05% in soybean‐based diets on the performance of juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei . No significant differences were observed in final biomass, final mean weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and survival across all treatments. The digestibility trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of carbohydrase supplementation at 0.02%, which is the recommended dose by the company that developed the carbohydrase on apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, protein, and energy of Pacific white shrimp. Protein digestibility was significantly improved when fed diets contained 0.02% carbohydrase in contrast with the basal diet. No significant differences were found in apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter and energy. Based on the positive results on protein digestibility, further research regarding the efficacy of exogenous enzymes and their application is warranted.