Apparent Digestibility of Some Commercial Feeds for Short Fin Pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)

Abstract

     The study was carried out from March to June 2015 at National Broodstock Center for Mariculture Species in Northern Vietnam (Center), Cat Ba, Hai Phong province, to evaluate digestibility of protein (ADP), lipid (ADL) and gross energy (ADE) of some available commercial feeds for pompano, Trachinotus ovatus, using indirect method with chromic oxidize (Cr₂O₃) 1% as inert marker. Pompano of 400 g/fish were held in marine cage - culture system (3 x 3 x 3 m, six of each cage) at density of 10 fish/m³. Three commercial aquafeed brands with different protein content, 46, 50 and 51% were determined for their digestibility in pompano (abbreviated as D46, D50 and D51) with three replicates. The feaces were collected each day by stripping method before feeding the fish. Fish were fed by hand to apparent satiety, once daily at 9h. Feaces were then pooled in sealed bottles and stored at – 20^oC until use. The results showed that ADP of D50 (71.34%) was lowest among experimental diets (P < 0.05), while that of D46 (76.42%) and D51 (77.52%) did not significantly differ (P > 0.05). ADL value of D51 was lower than that of D46 and D50 (P < 0.05). Result of ADE indicated that ability of pompano to digest energy from three commercial diets was similar (P > 0.05). The digestibility of protein and energy of three pellet feeds used to test in pompano culture was not so high and the quality of these feeds should be further improved.