| Home  | About ScienceAsia  | Publication charge  | Advertise with us  | Subscription for printed version  | Contact us  
Editorial Board
Journal Policy
Instructions for Authors
Online submission
Author Login
Reviewer Login
Volume 50 Number 1
Volume 49 Number 6
Volume 49 Number 5
Volume 49S Number 1
Volume 49 Number 4
Volume 49 Number 3
Earlier issues
Volume  Number 

previous article next article

Research articles

ScienceAsia 34 (2008): 353-360 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2008.34.353


Use of phytase to improve the digestibility of alternative feed ingredients by Amazon tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum


L.C. Nwannaa,*, C.A. Oishib, M. Pereira-Filhob

 
ABSTRACT:     The study assessed the effect of phytase on the digestibility of alternative plant feed ingredients Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) leaf meal fed to tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) and on fish growth. Five treatments were used: UPI denoted the negative control diet with unfermented plant ingredients; UPIP was positive control diet with unfermented plant ingredient supplemented with 3 g/kg phosphorus (NaH2PO4); FPI indicated diet with fermented plant ingredients; FPIPT1 denoted diet with fermented plant ingredients supplemented with phytase 4000 U/kg; and FPIPT2 was diet with plant ingredients fermented together with phytase 4000 U/kg. Chromic oxide was added to the diets as inert marker for digestibility study. The diets were fed to juveniles of tambaqui (70.0±6.3 g) to satiation twice daily in recirculation systems for 56 days. Results indicated high and better digestibility of protein and lipid by fish fed diet with phytase, which resulted in a corresponding better fish growth. Growth rate of the fish was high and increased from initial weight of 70 g to 132 g almost doubling the initial weight. No significant differences were found in weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ration, but performance was better in fish fed diets with phytase. The fish grew well in low dissolved oxygen levels of 4.23–4.34 mg/l, pH of 5.80–5.91 and high ammonia concentration of 1.76–2.17 mg/l without compromising growth and physiological functions.

Download PDF

18 Downloads 1270 Views


a Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure-Nigeria
b CPAQ/INPA, CP 478, 60.083-000, Manaus, AM, Brazil

* Corresponding author, E-mail: drlu2001@yahoo.com

Received 22 Feb 2008, Accepted 21 Nov 2008