Growth,feed utilization and body composition of African bonytongue,Heterotis niloticus,fingerlings fed diets containing various protein and lipid levels |
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| Authors: | Serge‐Eric Monentcham Victor Pouomogne Patrick Kestemont |
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| Institution: | 1. Unit of Research in Organismal Biology, University of Namur (FUNDP), Rue de Bruxelles 61, Namur, Belgium;2. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Yaoundé, Cameroon;3. Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, Aquaculture Unit, Foumban, Cameroon |
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| Abstract: | In order to evaluate the effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on the growth, feed utilization and body composition of Heterotis niloticus fingerlings, a factorial experiment with three replicates was conducted. Six experimental diets containing three crude protein levels (28%, 32% and 36%) and two crude lipid levels (6% and 13%) were tested. Heterotis niloticus (2.34 g) were fed with the diets to apparent satiation, twice a day. For 56 days, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE) and protein retention (PR) were significantly affected by dietary protein and dietary lipid levels respectively (P<0.01). The highest WG, SGR and FE were observed for fingerlings fed the diet containing 36% protein and 6% lipid, but no significance difference was found between groups fed with the following diets: P28L13 (28% protein and 13% lipid), P32L6, P32L13 and P36L13. A significant interaction between dietary protein and lipid was observed for WG, SGR, FE and PR. The whole‐body protein, lipid, moisture and ash content were not significantly affected by dietary lipid levels, but body protein and lipid content were significantly affected by dietary protein. The dietary protein‐sparing effect was clearly demonstrated when the dietary energy of lipid increased from 17 to 19.6 kJ g?1 at 28% crude protein on H. niloticus. |
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| Keywords: | Heterotis niloticus protein lipid growth feed utilization whole‐body composition |
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