Effects of the dietary protein and lipid levels on growth and body composition of bagrid catfish, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco

A 6-week feeding trial with four dietary protein levels (22%, 32%, 42% and 52%) and two dietary lipid levels (10% and 19%) was conducted to investigate the optimum dietary protein and lipid level for the growth of bagrid catfish fingerlings (0.92±0.01 g initial weight). Survival of fish was not affected by either dietary protein or dietary lipid level. Specific growth rate of fish fed the diets containing 10% lipid increased with increasing protein level and that of fish fed the diets containing 19% lipid increased with increasing protein level up to 42%. Feed efficiency of fish fed the 42% protein diet with 19% lipid and 52% protein diet with 10-19% lipid was higher than that of other groups. Daily feed intake of fish decreased with increasing dietary protein level at both lipid levels and showed a tendency toward higher values at 10% lipid diets than at 19% lipid diets. Protein efficiency ratio and protein retention of fish decreased with increasing dietary protein level, and those of fish fed the 19% lipid diet were higher than those of fish fed the 10% diet at 42% protein diet. Moisture content of fish fed 10% lipid diets was higher than that of fish fed 19% lipid diets, at each protein level. Crude lipid content of fish fed 19% lipid diets was higher than that of fish fed 10% lipid diets at each protein level. The results of this study indicate that an increase of dietary lipid level can improve growth and protein utilization, and the diet containing 42% protein with 19% lipid would be suitable for optimum growth and effective protein utilization of bagrid catfish fingerlings.