The specific growth rate was calculated according to SGR = (lnWf-lnWi)/(t2-t1) x 100, where Wf = final mean weight, Wi = initial mean weight and (t2-t1) = duration of experiment (30 days). The
protein efficiency ratio was computed according to PER = weight gain/protein fed. The data were subjected to ANOVA (Snedecor and Cochran, 1968) for testing the statistical significance.