Effect of Different Dietary Protein Levels on Growth Performance of Catla catla (Hamilton) Reared under Polyculture System
Effect of Different Dietary Protein Levels on Growth Performance of Catla catla (Hamilton) Reared under Polyculture System
Abir Ishtiaq and Muhammad Naeem*
ABSTRACT
A feeding trial to determine the effects of dietary protein levels on growth and to elucidate the optimal dietary crude protein requirement for Catla catla (Thaila) in a polyculture system was conducted. Four experimental diets containing graded levels of protein (15, 20, 25 and 30%) were tested. Triplicate groups of C. catla stocked in outdoors earthen ponds at 2000 fish/acre were fed at 4% of body weight, 2 times a day, for 180 days. The investigation was spread over three different sites, each providing four earthen ponds. The results revealed that the survival rate, mean individual harvesting weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and production of C. catla were significantly (p< 0.05) affected by different dietary protein levels. However, absolute gain of length and weight, specific growth rate and protein efficiency ratio were not significantly (p> 0.05) influenced by dietary protein levels. Absolute weight gain (g) amounted to 736.82±51.95, 749.76±71.20, 863.94±61.24 and 854.73±61.02 g, whereas FCR values were found to be 5.3±0.24, 4.69±0.50, 3.04±0.21 and 3.08±0.24, when the fish were fed upon the formulated diet containing 15, 20, 25 and 30% crude protein (CP), respectively. The maximum production was obtained in the fish group fed on a feed containing 25% CP. Production and FCR values of C. catla when fed upon 25% and 30% crude protein did not differ significantly (p>0.05) from each other. Thus, the results indicated that inclusion of 25% crude protein in fish feed was sufficient for the efficient production of C. catla in a polyculture system rather than using any higher protein level, such as 30%CP used in the present study. This finding should be beneficial in the formulation of economical feed for carps and disseminate high stocking fish culture in the region.
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