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Effect of ration size on growth, body composition, and energy and protein maintenance requirement of fingerling Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton)

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Abstract

An eight-week feeding trial has been conducted to determine the optimum ration for Indian major carp, Labeo rohita, fingerling (4.10 ± 0.30 cm, 0.55 ± 0.16 g) by feeding a purified diet (40% CP; 3.61 kcal g−1 GE) at six levels, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12% of body weight per day, at 0800 and 1600 h, in triplicate, to 20 fish per trough fitted with a water flow-through system. Highest weight gain, best feed conversion ratio (FCR), best specific growth rate (SGR%), and highest protein efficiency ratio (PER) were evident for rations of 6–8% body weight. Second-degree polynomial regression analysis for FCR, PER, protein, and energy retention data indicated the break-points occurred at 6.55, 6.75, 6.80, and 6.95% bw per day, respectively. Significant (P < 0.05) differences between body composition were observed for fish fed different rations. Maximum body protein content was recorded for 6% and 8% rations. A linear increase in body fat content was evident with increasing ration. Body moisture and ash content remained non-significantly (P > 0.05) low for higher rations, however. On the basis of these results it is recommended that feeding in the range 6.5–7.0% bw per day corresponding to 2.6–2.8 g protein and 23.49–25.31 kcal energy per 100 g of the diet per day is optimum for growth and efficient feed utilization of Labeo rohita. Results for 2–4% rations (0.8–1.6 g protein and 7.23–14.46 kcal energy) suggest these amounts approximate to the maintenance requirement of this fish.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Chairman, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India, for providing laboratory facilities, and also to Professor John E. Halver for supporting the fish nutrition research programme at this laboratory. Part of the work was performed as a result of financial assistance in the form of a “University Fellowship”.

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    Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, 190006, India

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  1. Fish Nutrition Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, C-8 Zakir Bagh, Teacher Hostel, Tar Bangala, Aligarh, 202 002, U.P., India

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Ahmed, I. Effect of ration size on growth, body composition, and energy and protein maintenance requirement of fingerling Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton). Fish Physiol Biochem 33, 203–212 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-007-9132-y

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