GROWTH AND FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF JUVENILE LEADER PRAWNS, PENAEUS-MONODON, FED DIFFERENT LIPIDS

The effects of feeding different lipids on the growth and fatty acid c omposition of juvenile leader prawns, Penaeus monodon, were evaluated using pelleted diets, Seven experimental diets were formulated using 4 % canola oil, 4% cod liver oil, 4% lard, 4% linseed oil, 4% medium cha in triglyceride (MCT) oil, 4% soy bean oil and 2% cod liver oil + 2% M CT oil. The diets were fed to triplicate groups of ten prawns (1.49 +/ - 0.01 g) for 40 days. Growth rates of prawns were significantly (P < 0.01) affected by lipid source. Mean growth rates of prawns fed linsee d oil, canola oil, soybean oil and MCT/cod liver oil were significantl y (P < 0.05) higher than in prawns fed cod liver oil or lard. Prawns f ed MCT oil exhibited a significantly (P < 0.05) lower mean growth rate than prawns fed all other diets. Survival of prawns was between 77 an d 100%. Analysis of fatty acid composition of neutral and polar lipids of whole prawns revealed similar fatty acid profiles to the diets, Pa rtitioning of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 to polar lipids and shorter chain fa tty acids to neutral lipids was observed in all treatments. Prawns may desaturate 16:0, elongation and desaturation products of 18 carbon fa tty acids were not noted. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.