Impact of Dietary Protein on Total Feed Consumption, Utilization, Protein Retention, and Growth Performance of Nilem Carp (Osteochilus vittatus) Fingerlings

This research aimed to observe the effect of dietary protein on the total feed consumption, feed utilization efficiency, protein retention, and growth of nilem carp (Osteochilus vittatus) fingerlings. Nilem carp with an average initial body weight of 2.56±0.08 g was used as trial fish. Fishes were reared in fiber ponds of (1x1x0.8) m3. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of 3 treatments with 3 replications. The treatments were A, B, and C each containing 27, 30, and 33% protein. Variables observed include total feed consumption (TFC), feed utilization efficiency (FUE), protein efficiency ratio (PER), protein retention (PR), relative growth rate (RGR), and survival rate (SR) of nilem carp (O. vittatus) fingerlings. At the end of this research, the results obtained are TFC A (151.05±4.84), B (113.65±1.35), and C (126.97±8.29) g; FEU A (39.76±2.07), B (53.68±1.05), and C (52.08±1.82)%; PER A (146.51±7.61), B (176.71±3.45), and C (156.77±5.46)%; PR A (19.01±1.06), B (23.65±0.46), and C (20.32±0.68)%; with RGR A (2.72±0.13), B (2.85±0.05), and C (3.05±0.09) %/day. SR values for treatments A, B, and C were found to be the same (P=.05), which is 100%. Statistical analysis showed that the rate of protein had a significant effect (P<.05) on TFC, FEU, PER, PR, and RGR. Based on the research result, it can be concluded that the best PER value was achieved by treatment B (30% protein) but the best RGR value was achieved by treatment C (33% protein).