Abstract
Two feeding experiments were conducted to determine suitable levels of dietary starch and compare the availability of dietary gelatinized starch (α-) and raw starch (β-) as an energy source for juvenile striped jack, Pseudocaranx dentex. Juveniles (initial body weight: 1.6g or 36g) were fed on 12 white fish meal based diets containing different amounts of α-starch (5-20%) and β-starch (10 and 15%) for 24 or 42 days.In both experiments, the growth and feed efficiency were low in fish fed diets containing a 5% starch level. Growth performance together with feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were highest in fish fed a diet containing 15% α-starch, but further elevation of dietary α-starch levels did not result in better growth. On the other hand, growth and feed efficiency were lowest in fish fed a diet containing 15% β-starch, in spite of having the highest daily feed consumption. Replacement of two-thirds of α-starch with β-starch slightly improved the growth, but it was still far inferior to that of the α-starch based diets.It is inferred that a suitable level of dietary starch is approximately 15% and that more than 50% of starch should be gelatinized.
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