Effect of Different Feed Ingredients on Growth and Level of Intestinal Enzyme Secretions in Juvenile <i>Labeo rohita</i>, <i>Catla catla</i>, <i>Cirrhinus mrigala</i> and <i>Hypophthalmicthys molitrix</i>

Abstract

Feed ingredients are the basic units in feed formulation. Behavior of individual ingredient dictates the overall performance of feed. Therefore, current studies were conducted to investigate the biological value of each ingredient in both Chinese and Indian major carps before their merger into feed formula to enhance fish growth and cut down feed cost. Trial contained two treatments and a control randomly received two glass aquaria (3 × 2 × 2 ft) with 10 fish in each. Fishes in control group were fed on rice polish, T1 on soybean meal and T2 on cotton seed meal @ 3 % of wet biomass of fish for 30 days. Labeo rohita , Hpophthalmichthys molitrix and Cirrhinus mrigala gained maximum weight on rice polish whereas Catla catla on soybean meal. Amylase concentrations were similar in fishes fed on rise polish except Hypophthalmichthys molitrix which secreted significantly low amylases. Values of lipase were the highest in Catla catla when fed on soybean meal. Cirrhinus mrigala did equally well on all ingredients while Hypophthalmichthys molitrix did very poorly. Protease concentrations slightly varied but variations were prominent from species to species. Protease concentrations in Catla catla were similar when fed on rice polish and soybean meal, however, Cirrhinus mrigala displayed higher protease concentrations when fed on cotton seed meal. These studies reveal that various fish species respond to a variety of ingredients in its own way hence acceptability and digestibility criteria should be given due importance during ingredient selection and feed formulation for particular fish species.