Abstract
Wheatgrass was evaluated as a potential non-conventional feedstuff to supplement fish meal in juvenile rohu (Labeorohita) diet to reduce feed cost. Green leafy sprouted wheatgrass (Triticumaestivum), inexpensive quality nutrient source, was processed into powder to formulate sinking pellet feed. Four isonitrogenous test diets were applied in four treatments (T) with three replications (R) each. The basal inclusion rate of fish meal was 30% in the control (T0), of which 10, 20 and 30% was replaced with wheatgrass powder in T10, T20 and T30 respectively to feed the experimental fish. Rohu fingerlings (7.63±0.41 cm; 4.66±0.15 g) were stocked in twelve glass aquaria (60×40×45 cm³) at 10 fish in 75 L water per aquarium, fed experimental diets at 5% of body weight twice daily. After 60 days of feeding trial, significantly better growth was observed in T20 with the highest production (3.23±0.44 tons/ha/60days), SGR (1.01±0.08 %/day) and the lowest FCR (2.68±1.40). Importantly, fish survival rate was improved with the progressive addition of wheatgrass in T10 (90%), T20 (93.33%) and T30 (100%) compared to the lowest survival in T0 (86.67%). Correspondingly fish in T30 were most resilient to low pH stress test (LT50 = 17 minutes) followed by T20 and T10 than T0 (LT50 = 9 minutes). Supplementation also resulted in better fish carcass quality with lowest carcass lipid (3.96±0.15%) and highest protein (15.72±0.53%) in T20 feed cost was reduced by 2.73, 5.13 and 8.06% in T10, T20 and T30 respectively than T0. Therefore, wheatgrass has prospect in juvenile rohu diet.
 Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.7(3): 533-543, December 2020
Highlights
Fish has always been a good source of quality protein for public health
Palatability of test diets In natural habitat, fry of rohu (L. rohita) is planktivorous surface feeder which is transformed into water column and bottom feeding nature during fingerling stage fed predominantly on filamentous algae, decomposed vegetation, mud and sand (Chondar, 1999)
Rohu fingerlings have been reported to accept formulated diet in culture condition (Rahman et al, 2006). Considering their natural food components, it was presumed that wheatgrass powder supplemented formulated diets would be acceptable to the test fish
Summary
Fish has always been a good source of quality protein for public health. Global fish consumption has been dramatically increased with the increase of community awareness. Fish meal is being used as the prime protein source in aqua-feed because of its balanced nutrients, palatability and growth potential (Al-Thobaiti et al, 2018). Low cost and balanced amino acid contents have put the plant based ingredients one step ahead of animal sources (Mahboob, 2014; Azeredo et al, 2017) Considering this phenomenon, wheatgrass (freshly sprouted first leaves of the common wheat plant, Triticum aestivum) has been evaluated in this experiment as an alternate (plant origin) to fish meal in the diet of rohu (Labeo rohita) fingerlings with a view to minimizing feed cost at optimal growth and wellbeing of fish. The authors in their previous study used wheatgrass in the diet of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and in this current venture rohu was considered to brief on overall response of Indian major carp fed wheatgrass incorporated diets (Rana et al, 2020b)
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