Growth performance and nutrient digestibility of Cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings fed on soybean meal-based diet supplemented by phytase

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of phytase supplemented soybean meal based diet on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in Cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings. Presence of phytic acid in plant ingredients reduces the bioavailability of nutrient to fish as a result reduced fish growth. Reference diet and five test diets were prepared at 30% soybean meal based diet contents to examine the effects of phytase supplementation (0, 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 FTU kg-1) on plant meal-based diet (soybean meal) and nutrient availability for Cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings. Chromic oxide was added as indigestible marker. Triplicate tanks were used for all treatments. Fingerlings were fed at the rate of 5 % of live wet weight of fish. Water quality parameters such as DO, temperature and pH in every tank were monitored using standard methods. The results from the current work showed that 1000 FTU kg -1 level in soybean meal based test diets increased the nutrient digestibility in C. mrigala as compared to reference diet which resulted in significant (P<0.05) increase in growth performance parameters. It is concluded and suggested that the phytase supplemented soybean meal based diet at 1000 FTU kg -1 level is optimum to release sufficient chelated nutrients for C. mrigala fingerlings.