Determination of the metabolizable energy of some feed for bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the values of apparent metabolizable dry matter, apparent metabolizable energy and true metabolizable energy of the following ingredients for the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana Shaw, 1802) diet: poultry by-product meal, blood meal, meat and bone meal, cassava starch, shrimp cephalothorax meal, and bovine leather meal. A total of 144 frogs with weight of 98 ± 2.1 g were used, housed in plastic boxes, and being applied forced feeding. Other 24 additional animals, in the same conditions, were maintained in fast, in order to calculate the values of true metabolizable energy, through the determination of the endogenous and metabolic losses. The values of apparent metabolizable dry matter í  AMDM (%), apparent metabolizable energy - AME (kcal/kg) and true metabolizable energy - TME (kcal/kg) were, respectively: for poultry by-product meal: 62.07; 4473; and 4516; blood meal: 36.57; 4520; and 4564; meat and bone meal: 49.62; 2663; and 2706; cassava starch: 59.88; 3387; and 3436; shrimp cephalothorax meal: 58.32; 3202; and 3247; and bovine leather meal: 35.76; 2503; and 2552. Regarding the particularities of each ingredient in analysis, chiefly its composition, it was concluded that all the tested ingredients of animal origin could be used in ration for bullfrog. About cassava starch, it could be expected its use as energetic source or as a balance ingredient with the protein sources.