Optimizing the growth performance of brown-marbled grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forskal), by varying the proportion of dietary protein and lipid levels

• Published in: Animal feed science and technology 2014-05, Vol.191, p.98-105
• Main Authors: Shapawi, R., Ebi, I., Yong, A.S.K., Ng, W.K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brown-marbled grouper; Epinephelus fuscoguttatus; Growth performance; Lipid requirement; Marine; Protein requirement; Protein sparing action
• ISSN: 0377-8401; 1873-2216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2014.01.020

Nine practical diets containing different protein (450, 500, or 550g/kg) and lipid (80, 120, or 160g/kg) levels in a 3×3 factorial experimental design were fed to triplicate groups of brown-marbled grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (initial weight, 8.8±1.0g) for eight weeks. Fish were cultured in a flow-through seawater system with a stocking density of 15 fish per tank. Fish fed Diet 50/16 (500g/kg protein and 160g/kg lipid) had the highest final body weight and specific growth rate at the end of feeding trial. In general, diets with 450g/kg protein, irrespective of lipid levels, produced fish with lower growth performance compared to other fish groups. Meanwhile, increasing dietary protein content to 550g/kg did not improve growth rates of the cultured fish. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) mirrored the growth rate trend with better value of FCR observed in fish fed Diet 50/16. The results indicated that a diet formulated with 500g/kg protein and 160g/kg lipid was optimal for rearing brown-marbled grouper fingerlings