Effects of dietary replacement of fishmeal on growth performance and apparent digestibility co-efficient of climbing perch, Anabus testudineus

Abstract

A 70-days growth trail was conducted to determine the effects of replacing dietary fish meal with equal ratio of meat and bone meal (MBM) and protein concentrate (PC) on growth, digestibility and economic performances of climbing perch (A. testudineus). Four iso-nitrogenous diets (40% crude protein) were formulated by replacing 0 (T1), 70 (T2), 85 (T3) and 100% (T4) fish meal with a mixture of MBM and PC (1:1). Fish were stocked in each treatment at the rate of 300 per 40m 2 in 12 experimental ponds. Each treatment had three replications. At the beginning, fish were fed at 15% of their body weight which was gradually reduced to 5%. Water quality parameters measured during the experimental period were within the acceptable range of fish culture After 70 day’s growth trial, 10 fish from each replicate pond were transferred into 12 indoor glass aquarium (0.243 m each) to determine the digestibility of the experimental diets. Chromic oxide (0.5%) was used as a marker to the previous formulation to prepare diets for the digestibility trial. The result showed that the (P<0.05) final weight, % weight gain, SGR and final yield among the treatments were significantly higher in T1. There was also significant (P<0.05) difference of percent weight gain and SGR values of experimental fish in T1, T2, T3 and T4. No significant difference was also found among the AFCR values in T2, T3 and T4. Apparent digestibility of dry matter, protein and lipid was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T1. Similarly, no significant difference of apparent digestibility of dry matter and protein was found between T2, T3 and T3, T4. Lipid digestibility was not significantly different in fish fed diet, replaced up to 70% fishmeal protein with MBM and PC. No significant difference of lipid digestibility was also found in T3 and T4. A simple economic analysis showed that feed cost (Tk/kg) was higher in T1 (47.76) which was reduced in T2 (43.21), T3 (37.41) and T4 (40.95) with replacing fishmeal with MBM and PC. Net income hector 3 -1 were 6,42,158.01, 5,20,893.36, 5,06,152.40 and 2,50,005.99 BDT in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively, however, considering the benefit cost ratio best performance showed by T3 (1.81), T2 (1.71), T1 (1.66) and T4 (1.46) respectively. Highest BCR value (1.81) in T3 indicates more beneficial. The results of the present study indicate that 70 to 85% FM protein could be replaced with MBM and PC (50:50) for the pond culture of climbing perch A. testudineus.