Effects of Dietary Protein Level on Growth, Feed Conversion, and Protein Efficiency Ratio of Freshwater Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, in Outdoor Concrete Tanks

ABSTRACT

Isocaloric diets with 25,30, 35,40, and 45% protein levels were fed to triplicate groups of juvenile (1.96 ± 0.2 g) freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, at 3% to 6% body weight per day for 168 days. No significant effect of dietary protein level on weight gain, specific growth rate, and survival was found (P > 0.05). Highest wet weight gain was recorded for prawns fed 35% protein diet and the poorest for prawn fed 25% and 45% protein diet. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) progressively and significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with increasing level of dietary protein. The results of the present study suggest that dietary protein requirement of freshwater prawn is 35%.

KEYWORDS:

• Dietary protein
• growth
• feed conversion
• protein efficiency ratio
• freshwater prawn
• Macrobrachium rosenbergii