Effect of Solid-state Fermented Aquafeed on Growth Performance, Digestive Enzymes and Innate Immunity of Rohu, Labeo rohita

Abstract

Background: There is a scope of increasing the aquaculture production by use of fish feed produced from non-conventional ingredients and also improvement in the quality of feed by solid-state fermentation. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of solid-state fermented aquafeed on growth performance, digestive enzymes and innate immunity of rohu, Labeo rohita.Methods: Fish feed containing sesame oil cake and mahua oil cake was fermented through solid-state fermentation by yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and then compared with a non-fermented control feed with the same formula.Result: Solid-state fermentation increased crude protein (CP), decreased crude fibre (CF) and also lowered (p less than 0.05) anti-nutritional factors (ANF) of fish feed. After five months of experimental feeding, weight gain and digestibility of nutrients like dry matter, crude protein and ether extract were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) and feed conversion ratio was significantly lower in fish of fermented feed fed group than the control group. Furthermore, non-specific immune parameters such as lysozyme, myeloperoxidase and haemolytic activities and intestinal enzyme activity of fish fed with fermented feed increased significantly (p less than 0.05) compared to fish fed control feed. It is concluded that feeding of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermented feed could improve the growth, digestive enzymes activity and immunity of Rohu, Labeo rohita.