Evaluation of local ingredient formulated diet for golden rabbitfish, Siganus guttatus grow-out

Abstract

Golden rabbitfish, S. guttatus culture is feasible to be developed in ponds and floating net cages. To support rabbitfish culture, cheap and good quality feed using local ingredients is necessary. The study aimed to evaluate the local ingredients formulated feed for golden rabbitfish S. guttatus grow-out. Feed was formulated based on the least cost feed formulation. The feeding trial was carried out using 15 units of 1x1x2 m3 floating net cages, with a fish density of 23 fish/cage with an initial weight of 39.88±8.05 g. The study was completely randomized, with four treatments of feed formulation (A, B, C, D) and commercial feed as control (E) in triplicates for each treatment. Parameters observed included growth response, feed utilization, digestibility, carcass composition, and feed cost per kg of fish production. The data obtained were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result showed feed B gave the highest growth rate (1.05±0.09%) and was not significantly different from commercial feed (P>0.05). Still, it had a cheaper cost of production (IDR 15,000/kg of fish production) compared to commercial feed (IDR 22,000/kg of fish production) (P<0.05) with a 31.82% efficiency of production cost.