Abstract

The apparent digestibility (AD) of dietary components, energy and essential amino acids (EAA) of selected locally available plant protein feed ingredients in striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) fingerlings was studied. The AD of the test ingredients (ADi) differed (P < 0.05) and ranged from 66.2 to 89.6% for ADiDM, from 63.6 to 91.3% for ADiCP, from 65.4 to 85.3% for ADiOM and from 69.8 to 89.3% for ADiGE. The highest ADiDM, ADiOM and ADiGE in the test ingredients was obtained for broken rice, maize meal and soybean meal, while the lowest values were obtained for duckweed meal. Soybean meal and duckweed meal had the highest ADiCP, while there were no differences (P > 0.05) between the other test ingredients. The AD of total and individual EAA was higher in soybean meal, duckweed meal and broken rice than in the other test feed ingredients (P < 0.05). The lowest AD of individual EAA was found in maize meal, followed by cassava leaf meal and sweet potato leaf meal (P < 0.05). The low AD of individual plant feed ingredients may limit their potential to be used as replacement for fish meal in the feed.

Published in

Aquaculture Nutrition
2013, volume: 19, number: 4, pages: 619-628

Authors' information