Abstract:

The dietary protein requirement of fingerling mahseer, Tor putitora (Ham.) was investigated by feeding seven semi-purified diets containing varying levels of dietary protein within a range of 20 to 50%, using casein and gelatine as the dietary protein source, over a 50 day feeding period. The experiment was conducted in a static rearing system consisting of 14 glass aquaria of 55 l capacity. Each aquarium was stocked with 12 fingerlings of mahseer with a mean initial weight of 1.09 ± 0.002 g. Each treatment had two replicates and fish were fed twice daily at satiation level. The results of the study showed that the weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR % per day) of fish increased proportionally with the increase in dietary protein concentration to a level of 40% and thereafter, decreased with further increase in dietary protein levels. Fish fed on diet containing 40% protein level showed the significantly highest (P<0.05) weight gain. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) values ranged between 1.12 and 2.21. The protein efficiency ratio (PER) values ranged between 1.50 and 2.38 and the apparent net protein utilization (ANPU) values ranged between 24.69 and 32.24%. Apparent protein digestibility (APD) increased with the increase in dietary protein levels and ranged between 80.02 and 90.88%; diet containing 40% protein showed the highest APD value. There was progressive increase in carcass protein and a decrease in carcass lipid with progressive dietary protein increment. Based on observed growth performance, the dietary protein requirement of fingerlings of T. putitora was approximately 40%.

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Date 2002/09/01

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