Protein requirements of grass carp fry (Ctenopharyngodon idella Val.)

The study was aimed at determining the optimal level of protein in a casein diet for grass carp. There was a linear relationship between the percentage of protein in the diet and the increase in fish protein and weight up to optimal levels of 41 and 43%, respectively. No further increase in fish protein or weight was noted with diets containing up to 64% of protein. However, if the optimal level was defined by the parabolic curve with the formula y = 36.21 + 6.238x − 0.0593x2, it would equal 52.6 ± 1.93%. Net protein utilization (NPU) values for experimental diets were obtained using a formula which took the maintenance nitrogen metabolism on a non-protein diet into consideration. This NPU formula was related to the length of the experiment, difference in the weight of fish at the beginning of the experiment, and growth of fish fed protein diets. Both protein efficiency ratio (PER) and NPU decreased with the increase in protein content of the diets according to the formulae y = 1.966−0.018x and y = 40.8−0.327x + 302.6x, respectively.