Comparison of starch utilization in fingerlings of two Asian catfishes from the Mekong River (Pangasius bocourti Sauvage, 1880, Pangasius hypophthalmus Sauvage, 1878)

• Published in: Aquaculture nutrition Vol. 9; no. 4; pp. 215 - 222
• Main Authors: Hung, L. T., Lazard, J., Mariojouls, C., Moreau, Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.08.2003
• Subjects: energy supply; fat deposition; Freshwater; Pangasius bocourti; Pangasius hypophthalmus; protein sparing; Starch utilization; Asia, Mekong R
• ISSN: 1353-5773; 1365-2095
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2095.2003.00244.x

Five diets were formulated to provide an isoproteic daily dietary intake of 15 g kg−1 day−1, while maintaining daily starch intake ranging from 0 to 40 g kg−1 day−1. The 4‐week experiments started with initial mean weights of 4.7 and 4.4 g for Pangasius bocourti and P. hypophthalmus, respectively. The results clearly show the protein sparing action of starch in both species. Best protein retention was obtained with starch intake of 20 and 10 g kg−1 day−1 for P. bocourti and P. hypophthalmus, respectively, which was equivalent to 40 and 20% starch in the feed. Pangasius bocourti and P. hypophthalmus fingerlings attained maximal growth with starch intake of 30 and 10 g kg−1 day−1, equivalent to 60 and 20% starch in the feed. It was noted that body lipid accumulation was much higher in P. bocourti than in P. hypophthalmus, and that excess dietary starch intake depressed diet digestibility and growth.