EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FEED INGREDIENTS ON GROWTH, SENSORY ATTRIBUTES AND BODY COMPOSITION OF LABEO ROHITA

Comparative studies on effect of different feed ingredients on growth, sensory attributes and body composition of Labeorohita were conducted in fiber glass tanks having dimensions 12 ft x 4ft x 3 ft (length x width x depth) for a period of 3-months. Labeorohita (n = 10), having average body weight 200 +/- 2.33g were stocked in each fiberglass tank and were fed @ 4% of total fish biomass. Plant origin feed ingredients viz. guar meal, soybean meal, cotton seed meal and canola meal were used as treatment diets while fishmeal served as control. Each ingredient was considered as a separate treatment and there were three replicates for each of the treatment and control diets. Statistically significant (P <= 0.05) differences were observed in growth, FCR and specific growth rates among treatment and control diets. Weight gain was highest in fish fed with guar meal while the same was lowest for fishmeal diets. Although, there were differences in chemical composition of different feed ingredients however, statistically non-significant differences were observed in sensory attributes of fish flesh and the body composition of fish. Statistically, significant (P <= 0.05) variations in mineral content viz. Na, Ca, Fe, Zn, and Cu were recorded in fish flesh among treatment and control diets. It can be concluded from present study that plant origin feed ingredients viz. guar meal, soybean meal, cotton seed meal and canola meal can be safely used for feed formulations of herbivorous fish species while guar meal is recommended for better growth performance of Labeorohita.