Utilization of several plant proteins by grass fish (Ctenopharyngodon idella Valenciennes, 1844)

ABSTRACT Master Thesis UTILIZATION OF SEVERAL PLANT PROTEINS BY GRASS FISH (CTENOPHARYNGODON IDELLA VALENCIENNES, 1844) Ebru SERTEL Fırat University Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences Department of Aquaculture 2005. Page: 44 In this study, it was investigated the effects of several plant proteins on the growth (live weight, total length, live weight gain, relative growth rate, spesific growth rate and condition factor), feed utilization (feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, protein productive value, apparent digestibility ratio of nutrients and energy in the experimental rations) and meat quality (crude protein, fat. ash. fiber, nitrogen free extract, moisture and total energy) of grass fish (Ctenophcnyngodon idella). For this purpose, a control ration, contain 40% crude protein and 3469 kcal/kg total energy was prepared. Soybean meal (42.0%). corn meal (65.3%), cotton seed meal (55.9%) and sunflower seed meal (57.9%) were added in the experimental rations I. 2. 3 and 4 respectively instead of 50% fish meal protein used in the control ration. Crude protein and total energy levels of control and test rations were equalized. Tree replicates were conducted for each trials. The feed calculated as a percentage of the live weight was given to fishes three times in a day during 5 months at 25±1 "C of water temperature. There was a significant differences between test groups and control group in the live weight, total lenght. live weight gain, relative growth rate, spesific growth rate, condition factor, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, apparent digestibility ratio of nutrients and energy in the experimental rations (p<0.05). The highest values were obtained from control group that was followed by test groups I. 3. 4 and 2 respectively (p<0.05). There was a significant differences between the crude ash. fiber and nitrogen free extract values in the fish meat of the experimental groups (p<0.05). but these relations were not significant for the protein productive value and crude protein, fat. moisture and total energy in fish meat (p>0.05). Under the light of this study results, it is concluded that soybean meal, cotton seed meal, sunflower seed meal and corn meal were highly utilized by grass fish. Key Words: Grass fish. Ctenopharyngodon idella. plant protein sources, growth, feed utilization, meat quality.