Open AccessDietary arginine requirement of Heteropneustes fossilis fry (Bloch) based on growth, nutrient retention and haematological parameters
Author(s) -
KHAN M.A.,
ABIDI S.F.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
aquaculture nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1365-2095
pISSN - 1353-5773
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2095.2010.00819.x
Subject(s) - arginine , zoology , heteropneustes fossilis , biology , protein efficiency ratio , feed conversion ratio , nutrient , amino acid , biochemistry , endocrinology , body weight , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , catfish , fishery
Dietary arginine requirement of Heteropneustes fossilis fry (3.0 ± 0.5 cm; 5.1 ± 0.3 g) was determined by feeding casein‐gelatin‐based isonitrogenous (400 g kg −1 crude protein) and isocaloric (17.97 kJ g −1 ) amino acid test diets containing graded levels of l ‐arginine (15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25 g kg −1 dry diet) for 12 weeks. Maximum absolute weight gain (AWG) (44.4), best feed conversion ratio (FCR) (1.22), highest protein retention efficiency (PRE%) (41%), energy retention efficiency (ERE%) (75%), best condition factor, hepatosomatic index and viscerosomatic index were noted at 21 g kg −1 arginine of the dry diet. Maximum body protein (189.8 g kg −1 ) was also obtained in fish fed above diet. Highest haematocrit value (35%), Hb concentration (9.54 g dL −1 ), RBC count (3.44 × 10 9 mL −1 ) and lowest Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (1.93 mm h −1 ) were obtained at the above level of arginine in the diet. AWG, FCR, PRE% and ERE% data were analysed using broken‐line and an exponential fit to obtain more precise dietary arginine requirement. On the basis of broken‐line and exponential analyses of AWG, FCR, PRE and ERE data, inclusion of dietary arginine in the range of 20.4–22.6 g kg −1 dry diet, corresponding to 51–56.5 g kg −1 dietary protein, is recommended for formulating arginine‐balanced feeds for rearing H. fossilis fry.