ABSOLUTE FEEDING DESIGN, A REALISTIC WAY FOR FISH NUTRIENT REQUIREMENT DETERMINATION

The feeding experiment was designed on the basis of food allowance rat her than on feed formulation. Food allowances are fixed in an attempt to provide the desired amount of nutrients per body mass of fish per d ay (g kg(-1)* d(-1) or J* kg(-1)* d(-1)). Therefore, the initial dete rmination of optimum feeding ration is not required, and utilization o f neutral feed complement (e.g. cellulose) Is unnecessary. Data interp retation for such a design study is presented by a sample experiment f or protein-energy requirements of a tilapia species, Sarotherodon mela notheron. The interrelationships of commonly used indices for growth a nd nutritional efficiency are discussed.