Effects of dietary coconut meal on water stability, protein digestion and protein utility

Abstract

Determination effects of dietary coconut meal on water stability, protein digestion and protein utility was conducted in this study. In feed formulation, it were prepared by the replacement of soybean meal by coconut meal according to the ratio 3 :0 in Diet I (Dl), 2:1 in Diet 2 (D2) followed by 1:2 and 0:3 in Diet 3 (D3) and Diet 4 (D4) respectively. The proximate analysis of each treatment diet were done to know the nutritional content of each diet that may varying according to the amounts of coconut meal that were used. Protein content of faeces had been analyze to know the digestibility of the protein meanwhile initial weight, final weight and feed intake had been taken along the study as the way to determine protein utility. From the result, it clearly stated that there are significant differences in water stability and but insignificant differences for protein digestion and protein utility. It shown that fish fed with Diet 2 (D2) have better digestibility of protein and can utilize high amount of protein for specific purposes without affecting the percentage of dry matter of the pellet remaining after periods of immersion in water. It can concluded based on the result that the use of soybean meal and coconut meal with ratio 2: 1 give proper protein and energy levels in feed influence for better growth and body composition of fish without infecting the water stability.