The effects of dietary protein level on the growth, protein efficiency ratio and body composition of juvenile kelabau (Osteochilus melanopleurus)

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding with different protein levels on growth performance and body composition of kelabau fish (Osteochilus melanopleurus). Four experimental feeds with different protein levels but same fat content were formulated. The experimental variants were A, B, C and D containing protein levels of 25.14, 28.26, 31.88 and 34.73% respectively. O. melanopleurus was obtained from breeding unit of the Freshwater Aquaculture Center (BBAT) Mandiangin within an average weight of 2.09±0.16 g with a density of 20 fish maintained in plastic box sized 54.3 x 38 x 31.5 cm and filled with 40 L of water. O. melanopleurus were given experimental feed 2 times a day at satiation for 60 days. O. melanopleurus feed C (31% protein) showed higher growth rate, relative growth rate, total feed consumed, feed utilization efficiency were higher compared to other treatments (P<0.05). The highest mean growth rate was in the C feed treatment (31%) with an average of 4.14±0.54%, while the lowest relative growth in the feed treatment A (25%) with an average of 2.92±0.54%. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) of fish group which consumed feed formulation C = 1.50±0.06%, feed A = 1.45±0.13%, feed B = 1.40±0.04% and significantly different from fish group fish that consumed feed D = 1.16±0.07%.