APPARENT DIGESTIBILITY COEFFICIENTS OF CARBOHYDRATES FOR WHITE STURGEON

Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) were determined for white s turgeons (Acipenser transmontanus) fed purified diets containing diffe rent carbohydrates. White sturgeons were fed, at a rate of 1.0% body w eight/d, diets containing one of nine carbohydrates, and feces were co llected by manual stripping following a 2-week feeding period; chromiu m sesquioxide (Cr2O3) was used as an external indicator. The ADCs of c arbohydrates, lipid, and protein were significantly affected (P < 0.05 ) by carbohydrate source. The ADCs of carbohydrates ranked as follows: glucose, galactose, and maltose > dextrin > fructose and sucrose > la ctose and raw corn starch > cellulose. Inclusion of dietary fructose a nd lactose significantly reduced lipid digestibility (P < 0.05). Altho ugh protein indigestibility was significantly affected, all ADCs were greater than 92%.