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Effects of dietary protein
levels on the growth performance of Heterobranchus
bidorsalis (Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, 1809) fingerlings
from the Niger Delta
Jamabo, N. A.1* and Alfred-Ockiya, J. F.2
1Department
of Animal Science and Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture,
University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
2Department
of Fisheries, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Niger
Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State,
Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
amabsjama@yahoo.com.
Accepted
12 June, 2008 |
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Fingerlings of Heterobranchus bidorsalis were fed six
isocaloric diets at different crude protein levels at 5% of
body weight to determine the growth performance. Growth rate
and weight gain increased progressively with dietary protein
level to a maximum at 40%. Significant differences (p<0.05)
were recorded for the growth indices. The nutrient
utilization parameters had variable results among the
treatments. There was no significant difference in apparent
feed conversion ratio and the nitrogen metabolism but
apparent protein efficiency ratio showed significant
variations. The overall results indicated that fish fed 40%
dietary protein diet performed best in weight gain, food
conversion ratio and nitrogen metabolism.
Key
words:
Dietary protein, growth performance, Heterobranchus
bidorsalis. |
