Abstract
AbstractAn experiment of 75 days duration was conducted in fertilized outdoor circular cement tanks (1,000 L) with soil base for evaluating the growth and survival of Labeo fimbriatus fry fed with pelleted feed containing varied levels of dried azolla (Azolla pinnata). The Control feed contained 45% groundnut oilcake plus 45% rice bran and 10% finger millet flour added as binder for pelleting. Dried azolla powder was incorporated into the feed at 10, 20, 30 and 40% levels, replacing the groundnut cake and rice bran proportionately. L. fimbriatus (mean length 2.42 cm) fry were stocked in all the tanks at 30 m−3. The fish were fed 10% of body weight during the first month, followed by 7% during the second month and 5% during the last 15 days. Incorporation of azolla did not affect (p > 0.05) the water quality, growth and survival of fingerlings at harvest. Incorporation of azolla in the diet reduced the cost of feed (Rs. per 100 g biomass; Rs: Indian rupee, INR; 1 INR ≈ 0.015 EUR) from 3.35 to 2.53, with a ...
Highlights
In recent years, utilization of aquatic plants and weeds having high food value as feed ingredients has taken a new dimension in producing the much required animal protein at low cost
This study aims at evaluating the potential of azolla as an ingredient in the feed of Labeo fimbriatus during fry-to-fingerling rearing
This study aims at evaluating the potential of azolla (A. pinnata) as an ingredient in the feed of L. fimbriatus during fry-to-fingerling rearing
Summary
Utilization of aquatic plants and weeds having high food value as feed ingredients has taken a new dimension in producing the much required animal protein at low cost. Aquatic weeds have the added advantage of being cultivated in association with farmed fish species using the same water resources and/or farm effluent (Edwards, Hassan, Chao, & Pacharaprakiti, 1992; Gavina, 1994). They constitute dietary items for both herbivorous and omnivorous fish species in semi-intensive and extensive aquaculture production (Leonard, 1995). Growth and feed utilization in O. niloticus fry improved with increased dietary inclusion of azolla and the survival was unaffected. Growth and feed utilization in O. niloticus fry improved with increased dietary inclusion of azolla and the survival was unaffected. Devi and Vishwanath (1993) compared the nutritive value and growth responses of azolla-based diets on advanced fry of the endemic medium carp, Osteobrama belangeri
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