Effects of Growth Promoter-Enriched Farm-Made Feeds on the Growth, Flesh Quality and Economics of Labeo rohita Culture

Aims: The study compared the effects of three growth promoters enriched farm-made feeds with a commercial carp grower feed on growth, flesh compositions and palatability, and economics of Labeo rohita culture.

Study Design: The study was carried out through four treatments with three replications in each treatment. A commercial carp feed was used as control (T1, without growth promoter) and three experimental feeds were formulated by using locally available ingredients with the addition of three growth promoters viz., charger gel (CG), eon fish grower (EG) and aquazyme plus (AP) treated as T2, T3 and T4, respectively. Fifteen juveniles of L. rohita with initial weights ranging from 131.17±9.60g to 133.33±8.84g were stocked in each cage (96ft3) and served a daily ration of 5% body weight.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in 12 cages set in an experiment pond at the Department of Fisheries, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh for 80 days (June-August, 2022).

Methodology: Growth and feed utilization parameters by means of weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and chemical composition viz., crude protein, lipid, carbohydrate, fiber, ash and moisture content of feed and fish flesh along with palatability indicators viz., odor, taste and texture were evaluated according to standard formulae, AOAC methods and organoleptic sensory technique, respectively.

Results: CG, EG, and AP enriched feed exhibited significantly better growth performance, feed efficiency, flesh composition and palatability indicators compared to the control feed. Additionally, CG enriched feed was the most economically efficient followed by EG and AP enriched feed in terms of feed cost/kg production.

Conclusion: The findings conclude that charger gel enriched farm-made feed is more economical and yields better growth and flesh quality of L. rohita than the selected commercial feed.