Effect of Urea Treated Sugarcane Bagasse on Growth, Proximate Composition, Microbial Flora and Digestive Enzymes Activities of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

A 90 days experimental trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of urea treated sugarcane bagasse on the growth, gut microflora and digestive enzymes of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Fish were fed to 3% wet body weight per day with experimental diets having 0% (CTRL), 0.7% (T1), 1.4% (T2) and 2.1% (T3) urea, with each group having two replicate tanks. Fish fed on 2.1% urea treated sugarcane bagasse (T3) showed significantly (P<0.05) higher growth as compared to T2, T1 and CTRL. The feed conversion ratio and specific growth rate were also significantly higher in T3 fish group, followed by the T2, T1 and CTRL groups. Proximate analysis of fish showed that the level of crude protein was higher significantly in T2 fish than other groups and crude fat level was significantly higher in T1 fish, followed the T2, CTRL and T3 fish groups. The percentage level of dry matter was significantly higher in T3 fish and ash percentage was significantly higher in T2 fish relative to T3, T1 and CTRL groups. Amylase and Lipase concentration was significantly higher in T2 fish compared with T3, T1 and CTRL groups. Protease concentration was significantly higher in T3 fish, followed by the T1, T2 and CTRL fish groups. Lastly, the presence of Lactobacillus fermentum was confirmed in the T1, T2 and T3 fish groups. Overall, the results showed that urea treated sugarcane bagasse can be used as a feed ingredient for C. idella and has no adverse effect on the nutritional value of fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]