PROTEIN SOURCES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE INCARP (Cyprinus carpio L.) NUTRITION

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is one of the most widely culturedfish species in the world. It is predominantly cultivated in the Balkans in the semiintensivesystem that is based on the utilization of natural food from the fish pondand supplemental feed (cereals, pelleted and extruded feed). Currently, anintensified type of semi-intensive production is starting to be more present inSerbia, where cereals, as the most common supplemental feed, are replaced byconcentrated feed that fill in the lack of proteins from carps’ natural food in periodsof its decreased production. The nutritional requirements for growth, reproductionand normal physiological functions of fish are similar to other animals, butgenerally fish need more proteins in their diet. Due to this, the efficiency in the useand utilization of proteins is more significant for fish than for other animals. Theselection of supplemental feed in semi-intensive system of fish culture depends onthe natural potential of the fish pond, culturing period, fish category, price andquality of feed.