Abstract: A feeding trial was conducted for nine weeks to investigate the effects of partially replacing Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ with neutral phytase on the growth performance, phosphorus utilization, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical parameters, bone and carcass mineral composition, and digestive-enzyme-specific activity in crucian carp (Carassius auratus). The diets prepared with 0.8%, 0%, and 1.8% Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ (1%=1 g/100 g) supplements were regarded as the P₁E₀, negative control (NC), and positive control (PC) groups, respectively; the other three experimental diets were prepared with the addition of 200, 300, and 500 U/kg of neutral phytase, respectively, based on the P₁E₀ group. Three hundred and eighty-four fish ((1.50±0.01) g) were randomly distributed in the six treatments with four replicates each. The fish were initially fed with 2%–3% diets of their body weight per day, with feeding twice daily (08:00 and 16:00), under a 12-h light/12-h dark cycle at the temperature of (27.56±0.89) °C. The results showed that supplemental phytase at different levels in the diet improved the final body weight, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, phosphorus utilization, and protein efficiency ratio of crucian carp (P<0.05). Phytase supplementation increased the mineral content in serum (P), bone (P, Ca), and carcass (P, Ca, Zn, Na, and Mg) (P<0.05); the trypsin and chymotrypsin activity soared when fed with the phytase-supplemented diets (P<0.05). We may conclude that supplemental dietary neutral phytase improved the growth performance, phosphorus utilization as well as nutrient utilization in crucian carp, and it can be considered an important nutritional replacement for Ca(H₂PO₄)₂.

Key words: Neutral phytase; Crucian carp (Carassius auratus); Growth performance; Phosphorus utilization; Apparent digestibility coefficient; Body composition

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