Effects of Dietary Taurine Supplementation on Feed Utilization, Feed Conversion Ratio, and Growth Performance of Striped Catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) Fingerlings

This study evaluated graded taurine supplementation in commercial feed for striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) fingerlings during a 49-day rearing period. The dietary treatments differed significantly in total feed consumption, feed utilisation efficiency, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and relative growth rate. Among the four supplementation levels tested, 15 g taurine/kg feed produced the most favourable combination of measured feeding and growth outcomes. This treatment recorded total feed consumption of 154.70 g, feed utilisation efficiency of 86.32%, a feed conversion ratio of 1.02, a protein efficiency ratio of 3.29 and a relative growth rate of 5.02% per day. The feed conversion ratio at this level was the lowest among the treatments, indicating more efficient feed conversion under the experimental conditions. Survival was 100% across all treatments, with no significant treatment effect reported. These findings indicate that dietary taurine inclusion can influence feed use and growth responses in striped catfish fingerlings. Within the conditions and supplementation range examined, 15 g/kg was the most favourable tested level. The findings should be interpreted in relation to the feed formulation, fish size and rearing conditions used in this study.