Growth,Feed Conversion,and Nutrient Retention Efficiency of African Catfish,Clarias gariepinus, (Burchell) Fingerling Fed Diets with Varying Levels of Protein |
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Authors: | Farhat |
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Affiliation: | Fish Nutrition Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology , Aligarh Muslim University , Aligarh, India |
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Abstract: | Growth, feed conversion, and nutrient retention efficiencies of African catfish fingerling, Clarias gariepinus (5.22 ± .07 cm; 8.22 ± 0.03 g), fed diets with varying levels of protein were assessed by feeding seven casein/gelatin based isocaloric (17.62 kJ/g GE) experimental diets with graded levels of dietary protein (20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, and 50% of the diet) to triplicate groups of fish to apparent satiation for eight weeks. Effects of feeding these diets on live weight gain (LWG%), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), protein retention efficiency (PRE%), and energy retention efficiency (ERE%) were assessed. Maximum LWG% (867%), PER (2.01), highest PRE (32%), ERE (69%), best FCR (1.39), and maximum body protein were recorded in fish fed diet containing 35% protein. On the basis of the second-degree polynomial regression analysis of the above response variables, it is recommended that the inclusion of protein in the range of 34.4%–39.6% is optimum for maximizing growth potential, feed conversion, and nutrient retention in African catfish fingerling, Clarias gariepinus. |
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Keywords: | Dietary protein levels fingerling C. gariepinus feed conversion protein and energy retention |
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