IMPACT OF DIETARY CHOLESTEROL ON THE GROWTH AND CONVERSION EFFICIENCY OF THE FRESHWATER PRAWN MACROBRACHIUM MALCOLMSONII (H. MILNE EDWARDS)

M.J.S.P. Soundarapandian, T. Kannupandi-1997

The Israeli Journal of Aquaculture-Bamidgeh, 49(1): 3-11

Abstract:

The impact of dietary cholesterol on the growth and conversion efficiency of Macrobrachium malcolmsonii juveniles was assessed. Cholesterol diets were prepared by incorporating 0.2-3.5% commercial cholesterol into the basal diet. A higher growth rate, metabolic rate and assimilation efficiency and a reduction in feeding rate and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were observed in prawns fed the 2.5% cholesterol diet. However, the 3% and 3.5% cholesterol diets lowered the metabolic rate and assimilation efficiency and increased the feeding rate, excretion rate and FCR. The cholesterol efficiency ratio was highest in the 2.5% cholesterol diet. Cholesterol accumulation was highest in the body tissues of prawns fed the 2% cholesterol diet.

(Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai 608 502, Tamil Nadul, India)

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