THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT RATIOS OF FISH BYPRODUCTS ADDED TO FROZEN AND DRIED ARTEMIA ON SOME FEEDING PARAMETERS AND PROTEIN CONTENT IN COMMON CARP (CYPRINUS CARPIO L.)

Abstract

            The experiment was conducted in the Fish Laboratory for Postgraduate Studies at the University of Baghdad, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences. A total of 140 fish were used and reared for 70 days. The fish were randomly distributed into seven experimental groups. These groups included the addition of dried Artemia to the second, third, and fourth groups at a rate of 50% of fishmeal powder. Fish internal organ powder was added to the third and fourth groups at rates of 25% and 50%, respectively, of fishmeal powder. Frozen Artemia was also added to the fifth, sixth, and seventh groups at a rate of 50% of fishmeal powder, and fish internal organ powder was added to the sixth and seventh groups at rates of 25% and 50%, respectively, of fishmeal powder. The results showed that Treatment T6 exhibited superiority in feed conversion efficiency, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, apparent digestibility coefficient of the diet, apparent digestibility coefficient of protein, protein intake, and fecal appearance time. This indicates better utilization of added food, especially frozen Artemia at 50%, and fish by-products (internal organs) at 25%. Therefore, it can be concluded that using frozen and dried Artemia at 50% and fish by-products (internal organs) at 25% can be a good alternative to imported fishmeal in the feeding of common carp, contributing to the improvement of the studied traits.