Combinations of dietary fat sources in dry diets for Chanos chanos fingerlings

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the effects of 1:1 ratio of several dietary fat sources added in semipurified diets at 10% level on milkfish fingerlings. Results showed that the cod liver oil + coconut oil diet promoted significantly the highest growth rate. However, beef tallow + coconut oil and pork lard + coconut oil also gave good growth, feed conversion and survival. The hepatosomatic index of milkfish did not differ significantly among treatments. Proximate analysis of whole milkfish body showed that as body fat increased, body protein, ash and moisture levels decreased. Weight gains were positively correlated with body fat. Also, the various groups of fatty acids in diets and in milkfish have positive correlations. Diets containing high levels of saturated fatty acids resulted in low levels of milkfish polyunsaturated fatty acids.