Growth Response, Blood Serum Component And Yield Of The African Bony Tongue (Heterotis niloticus) Fed Varying Dietary Crude
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The effects of varying dietary protein levels on the growth, blood serum components and yield of juvenile African bony tongue (Heterotis niloticus) were studied for a period of 10 weeks. One hundred and thirty juvenile H. niloticus average weight of 160g were reared in fine meshed hapa set in a concrete tank. The fish were stocked at the rate of 10 fish/m2, and fed diets containing 28% (Diet 1), 31% (Diet 2), 34% (Diet 3) and 37% (Diet 4) crude protein levels. At the end of 10 weeks, growth response, serum protein, albumin/globulin ratio and the yield were determined. The results showed that consumption of different crude protein levels significantly (P<0.05) influenced mean weight gain (MWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and specific growth rate (SGR% per day). Diet 4 produced the best growth (3.16g per day). Total protein was slightly highest in fish fed diet 2, while albumin/globulin ratio was highest in fish fed diet 4. Yield parameters measured were better in fish fed diet 4 (i.e. Gross profit) but less in profit index and incidence of cost than fish fed diet 3.
