Apparent digestibility and utilization of protein and phosphorus in diets of incorporated with sprouted sorghum, phytase and protease enzymes for African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Apparent digestibility, deposition and retention of crude protein and phosphorus were determined for 30%, 35%, 50% and 55% CP diets incorporated with sprouted sorghum, 750, 1000 and 1250 unitskg-1 phytase and protease enzymes ,fed to African catfi sh fi ngerlings. All digestibility coeffi cients signifi cantly differed (p<0.05) among diets with the (92.66%) observed for phosphorus in 30% and 35%CP diets with1250 units of phytase, while that of protein (81.49%) was in 50%CP and 55% CP diets with 1250 units of protease. Crude protein deposition and retention signifi cantly differed (p<0.05) with the highest (705.10 and 10.03 respectively) recorded in diets with 1250 protease while that of phosphorus did not in both cases (p>0.05). This demonstrated that protease was more useful in starter (high protein) diets and phytase enzyme in grower (low protein) diets and forms a basis for effi cient use of phytase and protease enzymes in catfi sh diet formulations for different growth stages.