The Influence of Dietary Fat Levels and Environmental Temperature on Digestible Energy and Absorbability of Animal Fat in Catfish Diets

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Abstract
A study was conducted on the effects of three dietary levels of animal fat (5%, 10%, and 15%) and two environmental temperatures (23 and 28°) on the digestible energy (DE) and apparent absorbability (AA) of animal fat in diets of 150 g catfish. Results obtained by the use of the chromic oxide indicator technique demonstrated that at 28° and substitution levels up to 10% of diet, animal fat had a DE value of 7,000 kcal/kg and an AA of 94%. At the 15% level of substitution, both DE and AA were substantially reduced. At each level of substitution, DE and AA values were considerably lower in fish reared at 23°. At supplemental levels up to 10% of diet, the DE and AA values for catfish at 23° were 6,130 kcal/kg and 70%, respectively. Results from this study reconfirmed previous growth data which indicated that animal fat is an excellent dietary energy source for catfish which are reared at optimum temperatures.