Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

Abstract

Effect of Feeding Rates on Growth, Feed Utilisation and Nutrient Absorption of Murrel Fingerling, Channa striata (Bloch) and Determination of Protein and Energy Requirement for Maintenance and Maximum Growth

Samantaray K, Mohanty SS, Khuntia BK, Sahu B, Patra SK and Tripathy MK

Two experimental diets, containing 35% crude protein (P35) and 1628.4 kJ digestible energy and 45% crude protein (P45) and 2088.8 kJ digestible energy with protein to energy (P/E) ratio of 21.5 mg protein kJ-1 in both diets, were fed at incremental rates (1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0% of body weight day-1 (Bw.d-1) to murrel (Channa striata) fingerlings for 8 weeks. A linear increase in growth rate of fingerlings was observed up to 10.5 g protein (kg Bw.d) -1 and 488.51 kJ energy (kg Bw.d) -1 in P35 diet (r2=0.83) and 11.25 g protein (kg Bw.d) -1 and 522.2 kJ energy (kg Bw.d-1) in P 45 diet (r2=0.89). Regressing growth rate obtained for both the diets to zero weight gain, resulted in a maintenance requirement of 0.3 g protein (kg Bw.d) -1 and 16.6 kJ energy (kg Bw.d-1). The net gain in body protein also increased linearly with increasing feeding rates up to 10.5 g protein (kg Bw.d) -1 and 488.51 kJ energy (kg Bw.d)- 1 in P35 (r2=0.74) and 11.25 g protein (kg Bw.d-1) and 521.99 kJ energy (kg Bw. d) -1 in P45 (r2=0.4). Regression equations from the data obtained with the P35 diet predicted that 1.58 g protein (kg Bw.d) -1 and 71.4 kJ energy (kg Bw.d) -1 was required to maintain a constant amount of tissue protein in fingerlings. But with P45, the protein and energy intake levels have insignificant effects on carcass protein. The ration maximum (Rmax) values for growth were calculated to be 13.4 to 14.7 g protein (kg Bw.d) -1 and 666.6 kJ energy (kg Bw. d) -1 in both diets which corresponded to growth maximum (Gmax) of 1.18 to 1.28% wt d-1 for protein and 1.24 to 1.26% wt. d-1 for energy. The Rmax value for body protein deposition was calculated to be 11.8 g protein (kg Bw.d) -1 and 571.4 kJ energy (kg Bw.d) -1 with a predicted protein maximum (Pmax) of 1.62 to 1.72% with P35 diet. The effect of feeding rate on feed, protein and energy conversion efficiency and proximate composition were also examined.