Evaluation of sesame oil cake based floating feed on growth performance and non-specific immune response of Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822)

A sesame (or til) oil cake based floating feed (TOCF) was formulated and prepared for Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) using maize, soybean meal, til oil cake (TOC), groundnut oil cake (GOC) and de-oiled rice bran (DORB) with supplementation of minerals and vitamin mixture and its performance was compared with a commercial floating feed (CFF) purchased from local market. Both the experimental and commercial floating feed contained 28% crude protein and the floating percentage was 100. The weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of fish fed on TOCF was significantly higher (p<0.01) than fish fed on commercial floating feed. Non-specific immune parameters like respiratory burst activity, myeloperoxidase, lysozyme, bacterial agglutination, haemagglutination and haemolysin activity of fish fed on TOCF did not show any significant difference (p>0.01). However, the serum enzyme activities like lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase of fish fed on TOCF had lower values (p<0.01) compared to fish fed on CFF indicating anti-stress and anti-oxidant effect in developed feed. Sensory evaluation showed that, the fish from TOCF exhibited better (p<0.01) colour, flavour, sweetness and sourness than fish fed on CFF. Results of this experiment showed that, fish fed TOCF had higher growth performance and sensory score compared to fish fed on CFF whereas there was no change in non-specific immune response of fish fed on two types of feeds.