Utilization of Mung Bean, Vigna radiata (Linnaeus) as a Novel Protein Source in Practical-Type Diets for Juvenile Milkfish, Chanos chanos (Forsskal): Effects on Growth, Feed Efficiency, Body Composition, and Histology of Gut and Liver

Abstract

A 15-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimum partial inclusion of mung bean protein in milkfish diet. Six isonitrogenous practical-type diets with mung bean included at 0%, 4%, 8%, 12%, 16%, and 20% of the diet equivalent to 0%, 3%, 7%, 10%, 13%, and 17% of the total dietary protein, respectively, were formulated. Milkfish with average body weight (ABW) of 8.5 ± 0.23g were distributed in eighteen tanks (6 treatments X 3 replications) with 10 fish each. The fish were fed the diets three times daily. Results showed that growth of milkfish was not adversely affected by the inclusion of mung bean protein at any dietary level. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly improved by the inclusion of mung bean at 20% of the diet. Nutrient compositions of the fish carcass were similar in all diets. Furthermore, no detrimental effects attributable to mung bean inclusion were seen in terms of protein retention, hepatosomatic index (HSI), and liver and midgut histology of the fish. Overall, mung bean is a promising protein source for milkfish and can be included up to 20% of the diet contributing as much as 17% of the total dietary protein without detrimental effects on growth, feed performance, PER, protein retention, HSI, and liver and intestinal histology.