ANIMAL NUTRITION AND FEED TECHNOLOGY

Paul, B.N., Das, A., Mandal, R.N., Singh, P., Adhikari, S., Ghosh, K., Chowdhury, D., Chakrabarti, P.P. and Giri, S.S. 2020. Protein requirement of Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch, 1794) larvae. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, 20: 525–533.

A 22 d experiment was carried out to study the protein requirement of Ompok bimaculatus larvae (weight 0.11±0.01 g; length 20.49±0.70 mm). Three different formulated feeds were prepared with graded levels of crude protein i.e., with low (35% CP; LP), medium (40% CP; MP) and high (45% CP; HP) crude protein levels. The water quality parameters were optimum during the whole experimental duration. The survival rate was more than 70%. The fish grew to 0.34±0.06, 0.91±0.15 and 0.36±0.07 g, respectively in LP, MP and HP groups. The final weight was significantly (P<0.01) higher in MP having 40% CP in the diet. Both the net weight gain and specific growth rate were significantly (P<0.05) higher in MP having 40% CP in the diet as compared to LP and HP. The FCR was also significantly (P<0.05) lower in MP having 40% protein in the diet when compared with LP and HP. However, the protein efficiency ratio was similar (P>0.05) among the three treatment groups. Further, it was also revealed that the activities of enzymes in the digestive tract namely, a-amylase, lipase and pepsin were significantly (P<0.05) higher in MP diet having 40% crude protein. The present experiment, thus. revealed that 40% CP was sufficient for the optimum growth and survival of O. bimaculatus larvae.