Supplemental feeding of Penaeus monodon juveniles with diets containing various levels of defatted soybean meal

Abstract

Varying levels of defattedsoybeanmeal DSM (15, 25, 35, 45 and 55%) in supplementaldiets with approximately 40% crude protein and 10% crude fat were fed to tiger prawn juveniles in 1 m×1 m×1 m net cages set on the bottom of a 1-ha earthen pond. Prawns were stocked at 10 or 20 per m² and fed the various diets for 3 months. Prawns were also stocked outside the cages at a stocking density of 0.5/m². Weight gains were significantly affected by supplementalfeeding and stocking rate. Prawns that were stocked outside the cages weighed 13.2 g upon termination whereas those stocked at 10/m² and 20/m² were twice as heavy. Higher weight gains were recorded for prawns stocked at 10/m² compared to those stocked at 20/m². There were no significant differences in weight gains of prawns fed varying levels of soybeanmeal at stocking densities of 10 or 20/m², indicating that soybeanmeal can be incorporated into the ration at high levels. At both stocking rates, survival rates were relatively high and were not significantly different. Although no significant differences in growth were observed due to the different levels of defatted soybean meal in the diets, the diet with 35% DSM and 16% Peruvian fish meal gave the best yield.