Comparison of feeds containing conventional and non-conventional feedstuffs for milkfish (Chanos chanos Forsskal) in modified extensive culture system

• Main Author: Arcenal, Joseph Milfred M.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1999
• Subjects: Bangus culture; Milk-fish (Bangus); Fishes > Feeding and feeds; Biology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/2027
• Institution: De La Salle University

A randomized complete block experiment on feeding milkfish (Chanos chanos forsskal) with formulated diets containing locally available conventional and non-conventional sources of protein is conducted in Rebokon, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines.Main feedstuffs used in the diets were: local fishmeal, soya meal, Leucaena leucocephala (ipil-ipil) leaf meal, Manihot esculenta (cassava) leaf meal, and ricebran. The milkfish were fed isonetrogenously for 90 days starting at the 109th day of culture (DOC) up to 208 DOC at 4.0 percent fish biomass. The pelletized feed was formulated to be cheap (Feed X=PhP9.12/kg Feed Y=PhP8.92/kg) with low protein levels (Feed X=23.3 percent CP Feed Y=23.8 percent CP). The control diet was a high protein commercial feed (Feed Z=37.3 percent CP) at PhP25.00/kg. Fish on Feeds X, Y, and Z had final mean body weights of 265 plus-minus 4.8, 259 plus-minus 6.1, and 274 plus-minus 6.5g, respectively. Weight gain of fish on Feeds X (156 plus-minus 4.8g) and Y (150 plus-minus 6.1g) was significantly lower (p0.05, n0.05). Average of fish produced by Feed X per treatment/replicate (3 987 plus-minus 72.4g) was similar to Feed Y (3 888 plus-minus91.0g), while fish produced by Feed Z (4 119 plus-minus 97.7g) was significantly higher. The total supplemental feeds (g) given per treatment/replicate were: Feed X, 9 007 plus-minus 678 Feed Y, 8 151 plus-minus 129 and Feed Z, 4 902 plus-minus 36, respectively. Significant differences were observed in feed conversion ratio (FCR), i.e. Feed X and Y had significantly higher (p0.05) than Feed Z. In protein efficiency ratio (PER), Feed Z was significantly higher (p0.05) than both Feed X and Y, but no significant difference between Feed X and Feed Y. The study has concluded that a diet producing lesser growth was a diet producing greater profit-Feeds X and Y are more cost-effective than Z.