Effect of chicken haemoglobin powder on growth, feed utilization, immunity and haematological index of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Abstract

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing fish meal by chicken haemoglobin powder in largemouth bass diets. Four isonitrogenous (48%) and isolipidic (12%) diets were formulated to replace 0% (control), 9.80%, 19.61% and 29.41% of fish meal with chicken haemoglobin powder. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish (initial weight: 49.50 ± 0.07 g) twice daily. The fish specific growth rate was significantly reduced when diet replacement level was up to 19.61%, which may be related to the feed intake and apparent digestibility coefficient of protein and amino acids. Meanwhile, the feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio were not significantly decreased until the replacement level up to 29.41%. The activity of CCP was significantly reduced when 19.61% of fish meal was replaced. Meanwhile, the activity of lysozyme and serum protein content was significantly altered in fish fed with the diets up to 29.41% replacement. Additionally, the red blood cell count and haemoglobin content was significantly decreased when the replacement level was up to 19.61%. In overall, the diet with 9.80% of chicken haemoglobin powder was more suitable for largemouth bass.