Growth Response and Nutrient Utilization of Heterobranchus longifilis Fingerlings Fed Diets Fortified with Lactobacillus Paracasei

Abstract

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted in 12 plastic tanks (50cm x 34cm x 27cm) to assess the performance of Heterobranchus longifilis fingerlings fed diets containing Lactobacillus paracasei at different inclusion levels. Four diets were formulated at 40% crude protein content containing: no L. paracasei (control), L. paracasei at 2.0 x 10⁸ cfu/ml (LPA1), L. paracasei at 4.0 x 10⁸ cfu/ml (LPA2), L. paracasei at 6.0 x 10⁸ cfu/ml (LPA3). Each treatment was done in triplicate containing 20 fish (mean weight of 3.05±0.02g) each. Fish were fed to satiation. Heterobranchus longifilis fed LPA1 had significantly higher mean weight gain, specific growth rate, Protein efficiency ratio, nitrogen metabolism, and the lowest feed conversion ratio of 29.36±0.51, 1.22±0.01, 38.47±0.42, 15.39±0.17, 1.91±0.01, 817.41±11.56 and 1.31±0.01, respectively. The result from this study indicates that dietary L. paracasei at inclusion level of 2.0 x 10⁸ cfu/ml could enhance the growth and nutrient utilization of Heterobranchus longifilis.