Study On Phospholipid Nutrition Of Malaysian Mahseer, Tor Tambroides Juveniles

Abstract

Aquaculture has been developed into a sustainable industry allied through the culture of high-valued freshwater finfishes. Over 70% of aquaculture production depends on suitable feeds and feed ingredients. Phospholipid (PL) in fish feed has been identified as growth promoter in juveniles of fish. Interaction between phospholipid and other nutrients are also crucial. Therefore, the current research was initiated by supplementing phospholipid as non-fishmeal based feed ingredients to make a suitable diet for Malaysian Mahseer, Tor tambroides. Several feeding trials were conducted using juveniles of T. tambroides. The primary investigation showed specific growth rate (SGR) of 2.05% d -1 in fish fed 4% liquid soybean lecithin supplemented diet. However, another feeding trial confirmed a better SGR of 2.11% d -1 in mahseer juveniles fed diet supplemented with 4% granular soybean lecithin. Hence, granular soybean lecithin as PL source was advocated. Subsequent trials were associated with the PL supplementation and fishmeal (FM) replacement studies for T. tambroides. Thus, soybean meal and fish bone meal were suggested to replace dietary FM when supplemented with PL.