The Effect of Phytase Enzyme in Feed on Growth Performance, Feed Utilization Efficiency, and Survival Rate of Milkfish (Chanos chanos) Fingerlings

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of phytase enzyme supplementation on the growth performance, feed utilization efficiency, and survival rate of milkfish fingerlings. The experimental fish used in this study were milkfish fingerlings with an average weight of 2.89±0.46 g per fish. The feed used in this research was a formulated pellet feed containing 30% protein, with added phytase enzyme. The treatments consisted of different phytase enzyme doses, namely A (0 mg/kg feed), B (250 mg/kg feed), C (500 mg/kg feed), and D (750 mg/kg feed). The results showed that different doses of phytase enzyme in the feed significantly affected (P<0.05) growth performance and feed utilization efficiency but did not significantly affect (P>0.05) the survival rate of milkfish fingerlings. The optimal dose of phytase enzyme for improving growth performance and feed utilization efficiency in milkfish fingerlings was between 502-665 mg/kg feed, resulting in a maximum total feed consumption (TFC) of 140.43 g, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) of 1.18, feed efficiency (FE) of 78.16%, protein efficiency ratio (PER) of 2.6, and relative growth rate (RGR) of 4.43%.