Effect of fermentation on the nutritive value of sesame seed meal in the diets for rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlings

Six isonitrogenous (350 g kg⁻¹ crude protein) and isoenergetic (17573 kJ kg⁻¹) experimental diets incorporating raw and fermented sesame ( Seasamum indicum ) seed meal at 200, 300, and 400 g kg⁻¹ into a fishmeal based diet were fed to rohu Labeo rohita fingerlings for 60 days and the growth performance and feed utilization efficiency of the fish was studied. The antinutritional factor phytic acid, from raw sesame seed meal, could be reduced below detection limit by fermentation with lactic acid bacteria ( Lactobacillus acidophilus ). Fermentation of the oilseed meal resulted in reduction of the tannin content from 20 to 10 g kg⁻¹. In terms of growth response, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio, a diet containing 400 g kg⁻¹ fermented sesame seed meal resulted in a significantly ( P  < 0.01) best fish performance. In general, growth and feed utilization efficiencies of fish fed fermented sesame seed meal diets were superior to those fed raw oilseed meal diets. Apparent protein digestibility (APD) values decreased with increasing levels of raw oilseed meal. APD was, however, significantly ( P  < 0.01) higher at all levels of incorporation of fermented sesame seed meal, while diets containing raw oilseed meal resulted in poor protein and lipid digestibility. Carcass protein and lipid contents of fish fed fermented sesame seed meal diets increased with increasing level of incorporation, being highest with 400 g kg⁻¹ fermented oilseed meal-containing diet. The results showed that sesame seed meal may be incorporated in carp diets up to 200 g kg⁻¹ and 400 g kg⁻¹ in raw and treated (fermented) forms respectively.     

Optimum formulation of feed for rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), with biofloc as a component

The present study was conducted to design an optimum feed mix for the growth of rohu (Labeo rohita) in light-limited indoor culture with biofloc as a component along with fish feed. Eighteen 700-L tanks were utilized for producing biofloc using aquaculture effluent from a nearby carp culture pond. Fifteen different feed mixes were prepared using fish feed and biofloc in dry (4 % moisture content) and wet (90 % moisture content) forms at different proportions and used in feeding trials (three replications) conducted in forty-five 50-L glass aquarium stocked with three rohu fingerlings with average individual weight of 20 ± 1.5 g for a period of 90 days. Fish survival was 100 % in all the treatments. Mixture design was used to obtain a solution of best combination of feed source to obtain the optimum growth parameters of rohu. Optimum growth parameters (net yield, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and feed conversion ratio) of rohu were obtained at feed mix containing 50 % fish feed and 50 % wet floc. The nutritional quality of biofloc was found to be quite suitable for rohu. The images of 3-week-old biofloc captured in scanning electron microscope (SEM) indicated the presence of different types of bacteria, algae, protozoa, rotifers, etc. in different sizes ranging from 10 to 100 μm.     

The apparent total and nutrient digestibility of sal seed (Shorea robusta) meal in rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlings

The apparent digestibility of both raw and treated (16 h soaked in water) deoiled salseed (Shorea robusta) meal by Labeo rohita (Hamilton) fingerlings was evaluated at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60% levels of incorporation for each, using fish meal based feed as the reference diet. The tannin content from salseed meal could be reduced from 3.4% (in raw salseed meal) to 1.1, 0.9, 0.8 and 0.7% by soaking in water at room temperature for 30 min, 1 h, 2 h and 16 h, respectively. The digestibility of dry matter, protein, lipid and ash declined with increasing levels of inclusion of raw and soaked salseed meal. The diets containing soaked salseed meal resulted in better digestibility of nutrients at all levels of inclusion as compared to those obtained with diets that incorporate raw salseed meal. The results indicate that deoiled salseed meal can be incorporated upto a level of 30% in processed (16 h soaking in water) condition by reducing tannin.     

Stress mitigating and growth enhancing effect of dietary tryptophan in rohu (Labeo rohita,Hamilton, 1822) fingerlings

An experiment was conducted to study the stress mitigation and growth enhancing role of dietary l-tryptophan (TRP) under thermal stress in rohu, Labeo rohita fingerlings for 45 days. Seven hundred and twenty fishes were distributed in three major groups that are ambient temperature (26 °C), 34 and 38 °C in triplicate following a complete randomized design. Acclimation of fishes to 34 and 38 °C over average ambient temperatures were carried out at 1 °C/day. Each group was fed with a diet supplemented with 0, 0.36, 0.72 or 1.42 % l-TRP. Results showed that blood glucose and serum cortisol level were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the higher temperature groups than the ambient temperature group. Similarly, aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, CAT, superoxide dismutase activities were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the control groups (0 % l-TRP) and decreasing activities of these enzymes were observed with the increasing level of dietary l-TRP. In different temperature groups, l-TRP-supplemented groups were found to have higher (p < 0.05) growth, RGR and PER. The results obtained in the present study indicate that dietary l-TRP mitigates thermal stress and enhances growth. From the present study, we can conclude that dietary supplementation of l-TRP at the 0.72 % level in the diet is found to be optimum to reduce thermal stress even up to 38 °C in rohu, L. rohita. The baseline data obtained here could be useful for the farmers to formulate feeds to culture the fish in different agro-climatic zones.     

Effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on growth, feed conversion and body composition in rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlings

Twelve experimental diets (D‐1 to D‐12) in a 4 × 3 factorial design (four protein levels: 250, 350, 400 and 450 g kg^?1 and three lipid levels: 50, 100 and 150 g kg^?1) were formulated. Carbohydrate level was constant at 250 g kg^?1. Rohu fingerlings (average wt. 4.3 ± 0.02 g) were fed the experimental diets for 60 days in three replicates at 2% BW  day^?1. Weight gain (%), specific growth rate (% day^?1) and feed gain ratio (FGR) indicated that diets containing 450 g kg^?1 protein and 100 or 150 g kg^?1 lipid (diets D‐11 and D‐12) resulted in best performance, although results were not significantly different from those of diet D‐9 (400 g kg^?1 protein and 150 g kg^?1 lipid). Protein efficiency ratio was highest with diets D‐6 (350 g kg^?1 protein and 150 g kg^?1 lipid) and D‐9 (400 g kg^?1 protein and 150 g kg^?1 lipid) (P > 0.05) and declined with higher and lower protein diets at all levels of lipid tested. Elevated lipid level (50, 100 or 150 g kg^?1) did not produce better FGR in diets containing 400 and 450 g kg^?1 dietary protein (P > 0.05). The combined effects of protein and lipid were evident up to 400 g kg^?1 protein. Growth and FGR showed consistent improvement with increased lipid levels from 50 to 150 g kg^?1 at each protein level tested except with diets containing 450 g kg^?1 protein. Apparent nutrient digestibility (for protein, lipid and energy) did not show significant variation among different dietary groups (P > 0.05). Whole body protein and lipid contents increased significantly (P > 0.05) with dietary protein level. The results of this study indicate that rohu fingerlings are adapted to utilize high protein in diets with varying efficiency. The fish could utilize lipid to spare protein but there is no significant advantage from this beyond the dietary protein level of 350–400 g kg^?1 in terms of growth and body composition.     

In vitro assay of plant protease inhibitors from four different sources on digestive proteases of rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlings

The in vitro inhibitory effect of protease inhibitors from four seed extracts (soybean, grasspea, black gram and horse gram) on digestive proteases of rohu was assessed by enzyme inhibition assay and substrate sodium dodecyl sulphate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. High proteolytic activity was detected in the intestinal extract of rohu (Labeo rohita) fingerlings at two different pH ranges (8–8.5 and 10–11). That protein digestion occurs mainly in the alkaline condition in this fish without a stomach is evident from very high trypsin activity (0.95±0.04 benzoyl‐dl ‐arginine‐p‐nitroanilide U mg protein⁻¹) in the intestine. In case of grass pea seed, more than 50% inhibition of alkaline protease activity was recorded when the ratio of inhibitor to enzyme was 9.41 μg U⁻¹. More than 40% inhibition of protease activity was recorded in case of horse gram seed when the ratio of inhibitor to enzyme was 5.51 μg U⁻¹. Black gram at 11.0 μg U⁻¹ and soybean seed proteins at 62.75 μg U⁻¹ resulted in 50% and more than 30% inhibition of digestive protease activity in rohu fingerlings respectively. A plot of the inhibition values obtained by changing the relative concentrations of enzyme/inhibitor resulted in different dose–response curves for different protein sources. The use of substrate gel electrophoresis allowed the visualization of the aforementioned differences in inhibition. Each seed extract produced a characteristic profile of protease inhibition. It is concluded that protease inhibitors present in plant protein sources adversely affect the digestive proteases in fish and hence there is a need to eliminate/reduce the amount of such inhibitors through proper processing before incorporation into aquafeeds.     

The potential of deoiled sal (Shorea robusta) seed meal as a feedstuff in pelleted feed for Indian major carp, rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlings

Ten isonitrogenous (350 g kg^1-crude protein) diets incorporating raw and soaked deoiled sal (Shorea robusta) seed meal at 200, 300,400, 500 and 600 g kg^?1 into a fish-meal-based diet were fed to rohu, Labeo rohita (Ham.), fingerlings for 60 days and fish performance was studied. Tannin from raw salseed meal could be reduced from 34 to 7 g kg^?1 by soaking in water for 16 h at room temperature. In terms of growth response, food conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio, a diet containing 200 g kg^?1 soaked salseed meal resulted in significantly (P < 0.01) the best performance of the fish. Apparent protein digestibility (APD) values decreased with increasing level of oilseed meal. Carcass protein was highest in fish fed diets containing 200 g kg^?1 soaked salseed meal. The results showed that deoiled salseed meal can be incorporated in carp diets up to 200 g kg^?1 and 300 g kg^?1 in raw and treated forms respectively.     

Development and characterization of cell lines derived from rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), and catla, Catla catla (Hamilton)

Two new cell lines, designated RE and CB, were derived from the eye of rohu, Labeo rohita , and the brain of catla, Catla catla , respectively. The cell lines were maintained in Leibovitz's L-15 supplemented with 20% foetal bovine serum. The RE cell line was sub-cultured for more than 70 passages and the CB cell line for more than 35 passages. The RE cells are rounded and consist predominantly of epithelial cells. The CB cell line consists of predominantly fibroblastic-like cells. Both cell lines are able to grow at temperatures between 25 and 32 °C with an optimum of 28 °C. The growth rate of the cells increased as the foetal bovine serum concentration increased from 2% to 20% at 28 °C, with optimum growth at concentrations of 15% or 20% foetal bovine serum. The cells were successfully cryopreserved and revived at different passage levels. The cell lines were not susceptible to four marine fish viruses. Extracellular products from Aeromonas sp . were toxic to the cell lines. When the cells were transfected with plasmid eukaryotic green fluorescent protein (pEGFP [Clontech, Carlsbad, CA, USA]) vector DNA, a significant fluorescent signal was observed suggesting that these cell lines could be a useful tool for transgenic and genetic manipulation studies. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of mitochondrial 12S rRNA from rohu and catla confirmed that the cell lines originated from these fish species. The cell lines were further characterized by immunocytochemistry using confocal laser scanning microscopy.     

Utilization of electron beam irradiated Jatropha kernel meal in the diet of Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) fingerlings

Defatted Jatropha kernel meal (DJKM) was irradiated through electron beam radiation at 25 kGy (IJKM). After irradiation, PEs and phytate were decreased by 36.67% and 55.27%, respectively, with slight reduction in total hydrolysed amino acids in IJKM. A 45‐day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the utilization of irradiated Jatropha kernel meal (IJKM) in the diet of rohu (Labeo rohita) fingerlings. Five isonitrogenous (300 g/kg CP) and isoenergetic (15 MJ/kg GE) diets such as T0 (control, without IJKM), T5 (50 g/kg IJKM), T10 (100 g/kg IJKM), T15 (150 g/kg IJKM) and T20 (200 g/kg IJKM) were prepared and fed to fish of respective treatments. Fish fed diets containing T15 and T20 groups exhibited significantly lower (p < .05) weight gain, FCE, PER, ANPU, HSI, ISI, survival rate, nutrient and energy digestibility, than the other groups. Fish of higher IJKM fed groups (T15 and T20) also showed lower muscle moisture, protein, ash and higher muscle lipid content. The liver catalase and SOD activities significantly decreased in the higher IJKM fed groups. It is concluded that IJKM (irradiated by 25 kGy electron beam) can be incorporated up to 100 g/kg in carp feed with the replacement of 33% soybean meal and 28% ground nut oil cake without compromising growth performances of Labeo rohita.     

Improvement of quality of sesame Seasamum indicum seed meal protein with supplemental amino acids in feeds for rohu Labeo rohita (Hamilton) fingerlings

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted in a static indoor rearing system to examine the effects of partial substitution of fish meal (FM) protein with sesame seed meal protein with and without supplemental amino acids in diets for rohu Labeo rohita fingerlings (average weight 3.82 ± 0.05 g). Before incorporation into diets, sesame Seasamum indicum seed meal was fermented with lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus in order to reduce/eliminate the antinutritional factors tannin and phytic acid present in it. Twelve experimental diets (diets D1 to D12) were formulated replacing the FM protein from a reference diet with sesame seed meal protein at different levels (four sets of diets, of which each set of three diets contained 30%, 40% and 50% replacement of FM protein by sesame seed meal protein respectively). Diets D1 to D3 were not supplemented with any amino acid. Lysine was supplemented to diets D4 to D6. Diets D7 to D9 were supplemented with methionine–cystine (together), and diets D10 to D12 contained lysine and methionine–cystine (together). Lysine and methionine–cystine were added to the diets at 5.7% and 3.1% of dietary protein respectively. The groups of fish fed diets without any supplemental amino acids had significantly lower percentage weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR) and higher feed : gain ratio (FGR) than the groups of fish fed on other experimental diets. The addition of lysine and methionine–cystine to the diet in which 50% of FM protein was replaced by sesame meal protein (diet D12) significantly improved fish weight gain and FGR. The percentage live weight gain and SGR values differed significantly (P < 0.01) from each other in the fish fed diets D10 to D12, which were supplemented with all three amino acids. The results of the present study suggest that rohu fingerlings can effectively utilize the supplemented amino acids and that sesame seed meal protein can replace up to 50% of FM protein in the diets for rohu if the sesame seed meal is properly processed (fermented) and supplemented with deficient amino acids.     

Allozyme variation of hatchery and river populations of rohu (Labeo rohita, Hamilton) in Bangladesh

The genetic variations of rohu (Labeo rohita, Hamilton) sampled from five hatchery populations (Arabpur, Brahmaputra, Comilla, Kishorganj and Natore) and three major river populations (the Halda, the Jamuna and the Padma) were analysed by allozyme electrophoresis. Ten enzymes encoded by 11 loci were screened, and six were polymorphic. Alleles at three loci (Est‐1^*, Gpi‐1^* and Gpi‐2^*) proved variable for hatchery and river populations, and the Mdh‐2^* locus exhibited heterozygous genotypes for river populations only. Polymorphic loci per population (27.3±5.3%), heterozygous loci per individual (15.5±1.2%) and relative gene diversity (0.27±0.08) in river populations were higher than those for hatchery populations (25.5±1.8%, 10.7±1.6% and 0.25±0.01 respectively). Also, the observed heterozygosity (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He) (0.09±0.03 and 0.14±0.04 respectively) in river populations were higher than those in hatchery populations (0.08±0.01 and 0.11±0.01 respectively). The lower levels of genetic variability in hatchery populations suggested the occurrence of inbreeding and/or genetic drift. The pairwise population differentiation (F_ST) values showed a lower level of genetic differentiation between hatchery and river population pairs. The unweighted pair‐group method with arithmetic mean dendrogram of Nei's genetic distances showed a relationship between the genetic distance and geographic distance. The populations were clustered into three groups: the Padma in one group, the Halda in second group and the Jamuna, including five hatcheries, in the third group. Highly diversified rohu individuals were observed in the Padma and Halda Rivers, whereas less genetically variable individuals were found in the Jamuna River and five hatcheries. These findings can be useful for rohu hatchery propagation to enhance the sustainable aquaculture production.     

Improvement of nutritive value of sesame oilseed meal in formulated diets for rohu,Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlings after fermentation with two phytase-producing bacterial strains isolated from fish gut

Eight isonitrogenous (approximately 35 % crude protein) and isocaloric (17.58 kJ g^?1) diets incorporating raw and fermented sesame oilseed meal replacing other feed ingredients including fishmeal at 10, 20, 30 and 40 % levels by weight into a fishmeal-based reference diet (RD) were fed to rohu, Labeo rohita, fingerlings (mean initial weight 3.19 ± 0.09 g) for 80 days. Two phytase-producing bacterial strains (LF1 and LH1 of Bacillus licheniformis) isolated from the foregut and hindgut regions of adult L. rohita were used for fermentation of oilseed meal for 15 days at 37 ± 2 °C. Fermentation of sesame seed meal was effective in significantly reducing the crude fibre content and anti-nutritional factors such as tannins and phytic acid and enhancing available free amino acids, free fatty acids and mineral concentration. In terms of growth, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio, 30 % fermented oilseed meal incorporated diet resulted in a significantly (P < 0.05) better performance of rohu fingerlings. In general, growth and feed utilization efficiencies of diets containing fermented oilseed meal were superior to diets containing raw meal. The apparent digestibility of protein, lipid, ash and minerals (phosphorus, calcium, manganese, copper and iron) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in fish fed diet containing 30 % fermented oilseed meal in comparison with those fed RD. The maximum deposition of protein in the carcass was recorded in fish fed the diet containing 30 % fermented seed meal.     

Stress mitigating and immunomodulatory effect of dietary pyridoxine in Labeo rohita (Hamilton) fingerlings

A 60‐day experiment was carried out to delineate stress mitigating and immunomodulatory role of dietary pyridoxine (PN) in Labeo rohita fingerlings exposed to endosulfan. Two hundred and seventy fingerlings were randomly distributed into six treatments in triplicates. Five iso‐caloric and iso‐nitrogenous purified diets were prepared with graded levels of pyridoxine. Six treatment groups were T₀ (10 mg PN+without endosulfan), T₁ (0 mg PN+endosulfan), T₂ (10 mg PN+endosulfan), T₃ (50 mg PN+endosulfan), T₄ (100 mg PN+endosulfan) and T₅ (200 mg PN+endosulfan). The role of pyridoxine on stress mitigation and immunomodulation was assessed by biochemical and haemato‐immunological parameters like aspartate aminotransaminase, alanine aminotransaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly (P<0.05) lower while acetylcholinesterase was significantly (P<0.05) higher in pyridoxine‐fed groups. Erythrocytes count, haemoglobin content and total serum protein, albumin, globulin, nitroblue tetrazolium and lysozyme activity were significantly (P<0.05) higher while cortisol and blood glucose were decreased significantly (P<0.05) in pyridoxine‐fed groups. Percentage survival after challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila was highest in T₀ group. The results obtained in present study indicate that dietary pyridoxine supplementation at 100 mg PN kg^?1 diet reduces the endosulfan‐induced stress and triggers immune response in L. rohita fingerlings.     

Water soaking and exogenous enzyme treatment of plant-based diets: effect on growth performance, whole-body composition, and digestive enzyme activities of rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlings

A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to delineate the main effect of water soaking of plant ingredients, phytase, cellulase, and their interactions on the growth and digestive enzyme activities of Labeo rohita fingerlings. Two basal diets were prepared using water-soaked (S) or unsoaked (US) plant-based ingredients. Feed of US ingredients was supplemented with phytase (U kg⁻¹) and cellulase (%) at the level of 0, 0 (C_us); 500, 0 (T₁); 0, 0.2 (T₂); 500, 0.2 (T₃), and feed of S ingredients at 0, 0 (C_s); 500, 0 (T₄); 0, 0.2 (T₅), and 500, 0.2 (T₆), respectively. Three hundred and sixty fingerlings were randomly distributed into eight treatments, each with three replicates. Soaking of the ingredients for 24 h significantly reduced the tannin content. However, feeding of S diets did not improve the fish growth. Highest performance was recorded in the T₃ group. A significant interaction between dietary phytase and cellulase was observed for apparent net protein utilization. Tissue crude protein, ether extract, and ash content of the fingerlings were observed highest in the T₃ group. Activities of amylase, protease, and lipase were recorded highest in the T₃ group. Results suggested that soaking of plant-based ingredients reduces tannin content; however, growth and digestive enzyme activities of group fed soaked diet were not improved, possibly due to leaching of soluble nutrients. Probably, a shorter duration soaking may be effective in reducing tannin content and avoiding nutrients leaching.     

Evaluation of the nutritive value of Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal, inoculated with fish intestinal bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus circulans in formulated diets for rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton) fingerlings

Nine isonitrogenous (35% crude protein approximately) and isocaloric (18.37 kJ g^?1) experimental diets (RLL20–BCFL40) were formulated with either raw or treated (inoculated with fish intestinal bacteria) Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal at 20%, 30% and 40% levels replacing other ingredients partially from a fish meal based reference diet (RD). Two specific strains of fish intestinal bacteria, Bacillus subtilis (isolated from Cyprinus carpio) and B. circulans (isolated from Oreochromis mossambicus) having extracellular cellulolytic and amylolytic activities, were used to inoculate Leucaena leaf meal for 15 days at 37°C. The crude fibre, cellulose and hemicellulose contents and the antinutritional factors, tannin, phytic acid and mimosine in the leaf meal decreased due to inoculation. However, free amino acids and fatty acids increased in the treated leaf meal. The response of rohu, Labeo rohita, fingerlings fed the experimental diets for 80 days was compared with fish fed a RD. Both the inclusion level and type of Leucaena leaf meal in diets significantly affected the growth performance of rohu. Fish fed diets containing inoculated Leucaena leaf meal performed better in comparison with those with the RD. On the basis of growth response, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and apparent net protein utilization, diet formulated with 30%Leucaena leaf meal inoculated with B. circulans resulted in the best performance of rohu fingerlings followed by diet with 40%B. subtilis inoculated Leucaena leaf meal. The apparent protein digestibility (APD) was better in fish fed diets containing B. circulans inoculated leaf meal. An increasing level of raw Leucaena leaf meal was associated with a decrease in the carcass protein content of rohu fingerlings. The activity of α‐amylase increased with the increasing level of treated leaf meal in diets. Cellulase activity increased with increasing level of inclusion of raw leaf meal, and was comparatively lower in fish fed diets with treated leaf meal. Activities of protease and lipase were higher in fish fed the RD. The results showed that it is possible to incorporate Leucaena leaf meal inoculated with enzyme‐producing fish intestinal bacteria in carp diets up to 40% level of inclusion.     

The potential of periphyton-based culture of two Indian major carps, rohu Labeo rohita (Hamilton) and gonia Labeo gonius (Linnaeus)

The effects of periphyton, grown on bamboo substrates, on growth and production of two Indian major carps, rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton) and gonia, Labeo gonius (Linnaeus), were studied at the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. For each species, five ponds were provided with bamboo substrates and five ponds without substrate (control). Ponds were stocked at a rate of 10 000 ha^?1 in both treatments. There was no discernible difference in water quality parameters between treatments. A large number of plankton (39 genera) showed periphytic nature and colonized the bamboo substrates. Rohu grew faster, resulting in a 77% higher net production (P < 0.05) in the ponds with bamboo substrates compared with the ponds without substrate. In contrast, the growth and production of gonia did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) between the substrate and control ponds. Rohu seems to be a more suitable candidate for periphyton‐based aquaculture systems than gonia.     

Evaluation of corn steep liquor as a supplementary feed for Labeo rohita (Ham.) fingerlings

The effects of corn steep liquor (CSL), a by-product of corn starch industry, in the fish diet at 25% (D1), 50% (D2) and 75% (D3) replacement of fish meal are investigated on the growth of Labeo rohita (rohu) fingerlings. Formulated feeds were iso-nitrogenous (39% crude protein) and iso-energetic (15.8?kJ/g). The CSL is found to be rich in protein (43.48%), lactic acid (20.79%) and minerals and is free from fibres, phytic acid and trypsin inhibitors. The sulphur amino acid content of CSL is found to be 2.43%, though it is deficient in lysine (0.73%). With diets D1 and D2, growth performance and feed efficiency in terms of weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) as well as apparent digestibility (APD and ALD) were higher when compared to CD. With diet D3, they were similar to CD. Up to 50% level of CSL in the diets (D1 and D2), the protein and lipid contents of carcass were significantly higher (P?<?0.05) when compared to CD. The digestive enzyme activities are found to be similar in all the diet groups. The findings suggest that in the diet of rohu, fish meal can be replaced up to 75% level with CSL without hampering the growth of the fishes. The CSL appear to be a better plant protein source as partial replacement of fish meal.