GROWTH PERFORMANCE, PROXIMATE COMPOSITION AND PROFITABILITY OF Heterobranchus longifilis GROW-OUT USING DIFFERENT COMMERCIAL FEEDS

Abstract

The effect of two commercial feeds and a farm-made feed on growth, body composition and economics of Heterobranchus longifilis grow-out were assessed. Triplicate groups of H. longifilis fingerlings mean weight 36 g ± 0.04 were fed commercial feeds in treatments 1 and 2 and a farm-made feed in treatment 3. Feeds were of 42% crude protein content. Feeding was at 1% body weight thrice daily. After 154 days, mean weight of 350 ±29 g, 342 ± 40 g and 118 ± 7 g were obtained in treatments 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio for treatments 1, 2, and 3 were 1.33 ± 0.04, 1.44 ± 0.13, and 1.79 ± 0.03; 1.25 ± 0.14, 1.48 ± 0.07, and 1.94 ± 0.1; 2.32 ± 0.01, 0.76 ± 0.02, and 1.1 ± 0.08; respectively.
Economic conversion ratio was significantly lower in treatment 2 than treatment 1 (P < 0.008). Economic weight gain and cost:benefit over feed cost in treatments 1, 2, and 3 were 513 ± 6, 1:1.37; 478 ± 15, 1:1.47; 852 ± 67, 1:0.82 respectively. Cost items in order of magnitude were water, feed and fingerlings. Inclusive of cost of water, cost:benefit becomes 1:1.16, 1:1.2, and 1:0.6 in treatments 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The lower priced and less preferred feed in treatment 2 had a higher growth performance than treatment 1, indicating a strong need for a fish feed advisory.