DISTRIBUTION OF ACTIVITY OF HYDROLYTIC ENZYMES AND THE EFFECT ON POLYSACCHARIDES, LIPIDS AND PROTEINS IN THE DIGESTIVE TRACT OF COYPUS

Eight coypus were fed with granulated feed containing hay meal, sunflower meal, wheat bran and soybean meal. Coypus were slaughtered at the age of 8 months and activities of 8 enzymes were determined in contents of stomach, small intestine and caecum. Proteolytic activity was detected in the stomach and small intestine. Activity of xylanase and pectinase was high in the caecum and low in the small intestine. Activity of cellulase was low both in the caecum and in the small intestine. Worth of mention is high activity of maltase in the small intestine and high pectinolytic activity in the caecum.