Abstract:In order to evaluate the effects of exogenous enzymes inclusion on growth performance, body composition and feed efficiency of largemouth bass, the diet with 25% fish meal was considered as the control, and another five isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated with the inclusion of neutral protease, keratinase, cellulase, phytase and complex enzymes (neutral protease, keratinase, cellulase and phytase), respectively. The fish were fed the experimental diets for 57 days twice daily. Results showed that fish fed the diet with keratinase, cellulase or complex enzymes inclusion displayed higher final body weight, weight gain rate and specific growth rate compared to the control group. Meanwhile, largemouth bass fed the diet with the supplementation of neutral protease, keratinase or phytase obtained significantly higher protein retention rate than that in the control group. The lipid retention rate was significantly higher in largemouth bass fed the diet with phytase or complex enzyme compared to other groups. The inclusion of exogenous enzyme significantly elevated the nutrient apparent digestibility coefficient of largemouth bass: the highest apparent digestibility of protein was observed in largemouth bass fed the diet with complex enzyme, which was significantly higher than other groups; the apparent digestibility of lipid in largemouth bass fed the diet with keratin, cellulase and complex enzyme was significantly higher than that in the neutral protease and control group. In summary, the supplementation of exogenous enzymes, especially keratinase, cellulase and complex enzyme, in high plant protein diet, can effectively promote the digestion and absorption of nutrients, improve feed utilization and elevate growth performance of largemouth bass.