Impact of graded dietary protein on growth parameters of hybrid (Labeo rohita ♀ and Catla catla ♂) from Southern Punjab, Pakistan.

This study was conducted to analyze the impact of varying levels of plant based protein diets (15%, 20%, and 25% crude protein) prepared from cheaper plant proteins, to keep minimum use of fish meal, on growth performance, survival and production of hybrid fry (Labeo rohita♀ x Catla catla ♂). The hybrid fry of mean 1.05±0.08 g body weight and 4.36±0.40 cm mean length were acclimatized and transferred to 8 X 6 X 3 ft. hapas. Fry were fed with fish meal at the rate of 10 % of body weight during acclimatization period and experimental feed at the rate of 5 % of body weight up to the end of the 90 days experiment in duplicate at the fish farms facility. The growth performance of test fishes was observed at monthly interval and accordingly the fish feed was readjusted. During the study period, water quality parameters were maintained within safe limits for fish growth. Ten fish specimens from each treatment were randomly collected at the end of trial for growth parameters analysis. Different growth parameters, such as mean weight gain, mean length gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, feed conversion ratio and production were determined. Results revealed maximum gains in T3 (25%) feed group as compared to T1 (15%) and T2 (20%) feed groups. The lowest food conversion ratio (FCR) was also noted in the T3 (25%) group showing best feed composition of T3 (25%) feed by the tested fish fry. ANOVA analysis showed highly significant (P<0.001) difference in the final weight, final length and production among three treatment groups (T1, T2, and T3), while no difference (P>0.05) was observed in SGR, FCR and PER values of the three treatment groups. Hence, a protein diet containing 25% dietary protein is not only cost-efficient, economical but also nutritional and wholesome for a fish's health condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]