Assimilation and growth efficiencies of postlarvae and juveniles of the Malaysian prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man), fed two balanced diets

Abstract

Assimilation efficiency was determined in postlarvae and juveniles of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, fed Purina Trout Chow and Bovilac Prawn diets. Assimilation, which depends on the assimilation efficiency as well as on the amount of food intake, was 43% higher for the postlarvae and 60% higher for the juveniles fed Purina than for those fed Bovilac (P < 0.05). The assimilation efficiency values were calculated by the Condrey et al. (1972) modified method, which considers the assimilated food in dry weight from the consumed material. The results show that postlarvae and juveniles fed Purina had an assimilation efficiency of 13 and 43.5% higher (P < 0.05) than the ones fed Bovilac. The indices of utilization of consumed or assimilated energy for growth, K₁ and K₂, were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for the prawns fed Purina than for those fed Bovilac.