Effect of Graded Dietary Protein Levels on Body Composition Parameters of Hybrid (Labeo rohita ♀ and Catla catla ♂) from Pakistan.

Present study was conducted to estimate the body composition parameters in hybrid fry (Labeo rohita ♀ and Catla catla ♂) by feeding them at three graded protein feeds (15%CP, 20%CP, 25%CP). Eighteen days old fry of hybrid (L. rohita ♀ and C. catla ♂) of 0.12±0.08 average weight(g) and length(cm) 1.63±0.21 were acclimatized and shifted in hapas (8x6x3 ft.), fed at the rate of 5% of their wet body weight. Ten samples from each hapa were randomly selected at the end of three months (90 days trial) for body composition analysis. Mean percent water, ash, fat and protein contents were ranged 80.55±0.94 to 80.55±0.94; 2.23±0.13 to 2.23±0.13, 5.85±0.55 to 6.63±0.97 and 10.59±1.67 to 11.93±1.67 in wet body weight of hybrid fish (Labeo rohita ♀ and Catla catla ♂), respectively, reared under different treatments. Mean water and fat contents showed highest percent values in T1 (15%CP), while ash and protein contents were found highest in T3 (25%CP) in the hybrid fish. Protein and lipid showed inverse relation as with increasing dietary protein levels as T3 (25%) feed showed highest protein content and lowest lipid content. Inverse relation was seen between water content and fat content. % water showed relationship with % fat, % protein and % organic content in T1 feed, while T2 and T3 showed no significant correlation. All (T1, T2, T3) feeds showed no relation between % water and % ash (wet and dry). All (T1, T2, T3) feeds observed highly significant correlation between body weight and water content. Investigation of body size on total body composition parameters revealed generally in different feeds an increasing trend in total protein, total ash and total organic content, while a decreasing trend in total fat content. Total length in all (T1, T2, T3) feeds observed no influence on total water content, total protein content and total organic content, while an influence on ash content and total fat content was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]