Effect of lycopene supplementation on nutrient utilization, hematology, antioxidant status and growth performance of Labeo rohita fingerlings fed canola meal-based diet.

The present study is conducted to investigate the effects of lycopene supplementation on nutrient digestibility, hematology, growth performance and antioxidant activity of Labeo rohita fingerlings fed on canola meal (CM) based test diets. The increase in the oxidation of muscles in fish led to rancidity and bad flavor that resulted in the reduced market value of fish. Seven test diets were formulated to having all the required nutrients at an adequate level for improving fish growth. One percent chromic oxide was further added to the feed as an indigestible biomarker. 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 mg/kg of lycopene were added to test the efficiency of the diet for growth performance, antioxidant activity, hematology, and nutrient digestibility of L. rohita fingerlings. V-shaped Tanks were used to keep fifteen fingerlings. For each treatment, three tanks were allocated and fingerlings were fed at the rate of 5% of the live wet weight. After the collection of fecal material two times a day, it was dried at 60°C and pooled for each treatment. By using standard formulae, it was calculated how each treatment affected the feed conversion ratio (FCR), nutrient digestibility, and growth. Results showed that test diet-V (40 mg/kg) lycopene supplementation was the best to significantly (p<0.05) improve growth, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant activity and hematology. The results of FCR, fish growth, and nutrient digestibility were all subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The variance between mean values was compared using the Tukey's Honesty test. Statistical analysis was conducted by using the CoStat Computer Package. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]