Exogenous protease in diets for tucunaré paca (cichla sp.) juvenile

Abstract

This experiment analyzed the enzymatic activity of the exogenous protease in the fish digestive tract and, afterwards, it was also evaluated the growth performance of tucunaré paca (cichla sp.) juvenile by the addition of four exogenous protease levels to a control diet with 40% CP. To evaluate the best enzyme inclusion level, four pelleted diets were elaborated with the following exogenous protease levels (0.00, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15%), in a completely randomized design in a 4 x 4 factorial arrangement. The best results of average weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and weight specific growth rate were showed by the animals fed with diet containing 0.10% of exogenous protease The exogenous protease enzyme added to the diet affected the body characteristics of tucunaré paca juvenile. © 2008 Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia.