Protein and energy levels for maximum growth, diet utilization, yield of edible flesh and protein sparing of hybrid Clarias catfish (Clarias macrocephalus x Clarias gariepinus)

Two feeding trials were performed to determine dietary protein and energy levels for maximum growth, diet utilization, yield of edible flesh and protein sparing of hybrid Clarias catfish (Clarias macrocephalus x Clarias gariepinus). A 3 x 3 factorial design was employed for experiment 1 in which nine diets containing either 20, 30 or 40% protein and 275, 300 or 325-kcal digestible energy/100 g were used. The follow-up experiment 2 was a 3 x 2 factorial in which three protein levels (30, 35 and 40%) and two digestible energy levels (275 and 325 kcal/100 g) were tested. Dietary ingredients used in both studies were similar but the ratios of energy provided by dextrin and lard were 11.3/1.0 and 3.8/1.0 for experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Each of the experimental diets was fed to apparent satiation twice daily to three aquaria of fish (15 fish/aquaria) with average weight of 4.0 and 2.0 g for experiment 1 and 2, respectively, for 8 wk. Performance of fish in experiment 1 was mainly influenced by dietary protein rather than by energy levels. Maximum growth and diet utilization were attained at dietary protein and energy levels of 40% and 275 kcal/100 g, respectively. Energy levels did not spare dietary protein in experiment 1. In experiment 2, growth, diet utilization, and yield of edible flesh of fish were influenced by protein and energy levels. Furthermore, the protein sparing effect was observed in experiment 2. Best performance and protein sparing were found at 35% protein and 325-kcal digestible energy/100 g. The studies showed that dietary protein and energy requirement for hybrid Clarias catfish are affected by carbohydrate to lipid ratio. Fish utilize dietary energy with a dextrin to lard ratio of 3.8/1.0 more efficiently than that with a ratio of 11.3/1.0. Therefore, dietary protein and energy for best performance and protein sparing of hybrid Clarias catfish reported for experiment 2 were more appropriate.