Efficacy of Cereals and Pulses as Feeds for the Post-larvae of the Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii ï€

Abstract

Two types of feeds were prepared using cereals (maize, bajra and Italian millet) and pulses (green gram, red gram and cow gram) respectively and fed to the post larvae of M. rosenbergii for a period of 60 days. The efficacy of these feeds on growth performance, biochemical constituents and energy utilization were assessed and compared with commercially available standard Scampi feed. Statistically insignificant differences were seen in weight gain, specific growth rate and conversion rate between control and experiments, and between experiments. However, significant differences (P<0.05) were recorded in feeding, absorption and metabolic rates between control and experiments. Similarly, significant difference (P<0.01) was noted in ammonia excretion rate between experiment groups.  As far as feeds are concerned no significant differences were seen in total protein, amino acid, carbohydrate and lipid levels between Scampi feed and pulses. However, significant differences ((P<0.01) were observed in contents of total protein, amino acid and carbohydrate between Scampi feed and cereals as well as between cereals and pulses. Generally, the trends in biochemical constituents of feeds recorded were also seen in prawns fed with these feeds. However, total protein was found to significantly higher (P<0.05) in prawns fed with Scampi feed. Total carbohydrate was significantly higher (P<0.05) in prawns fed with cereals. In contrast, total lipid was recorded to significantly higher (P<0.05) in prawns fed with pulses. The results indicate the fact that prawns fed with pulses produced equally appreciable growth to that of Scampi feed. Similarly, cereals also produced appreciable growth. Thus, it is evident that protein sparing effect on growth was more in prawns fed with cereals due to its higher carbohydrate content. This suggests that cereals can be included in feed formulation to partially replace the expensive pulses and costly Scampi feed in aquaculture of M. rosenbergii.

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Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore–641046, Tamilnadu, India

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Please Cite This Article As:

 

P. Saravana Bhavan, S. Anjalin Ruby, R. Poongodi, C. Seenivasan and S. Radhakrishnan. 2010. Efficacy of Cereals and Pulses as Feeds for the Post-larvae of the Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. J. Ecobiotechnol. 2(5):9-19.