Effect of Feeding Rate on the Growth Performance of <I>Channa punctatus</I> (BLOCH) Requirements for Their Growth Fry, and Protein and Energy Maintenance and Maximum

Abstract

Effect of feedin g rate on the growth, and protein and energy requirements for maintenance and maximum growth of Channa punctatus fry was studied. Fry' of average weight 0.58 ± 0 . 8 g (mean ±_S.D), in random duplicate groups were fed a diet having 45% crude protein and 432 kcal digestible energy at feeding rates equaling to 5, 6,7,8, 9 and 10% of body weight. The growth and body protein increased linearly up to a feeding level of 40.5 g/(kg BW.d) (r=0.97) and 388.8 kcal energy /(kg BW.d) (r=0.87) i.e. up to a feeding rate of 9% of body weight. Regressing growth rate back to zero weight gain, the protein and energy requirements for maintenance worked out to be 3.03 g protein and 16.44 kcal energy /(kg BW.d). Except moisture, the carcass composition of the fry was found to be affected by varying feeding rates. While no consistent change was observed in body ash content, the body protein content increased linearly with increase in feeding level up to 9% of body weight (40.5 g protein and 388.8 kcal energy/(kg BW.d), but fat content decreased marginally. Regressing protein and energy intake back to zero increase in body protein predicted that 1.75 g protein/(kg BW.d) and 24.07 kcal energy /(kg BW.d) were required to maintain constant body protein.