Evaluation of sugar industry by-products for growth performance, body composition and metabolism in Labeo rohita (Ham) Fingerlings.

Abstract

The development of a cost effective feed is a necessity for profitable operation of fish farms. One approach towards the reduction of feed cost is the utilization of locally available non-conventional agroindustrial byproducts. In order to assess the potential of sugar industry by-products (press mud and cane molasses) as ingredients in the feed for Labeo rohita (Rohu), a 60 day feeding trial was conducted with 180 fingerlings (2.26±0.05g) which were randomly distributed into six treatment groups with triplicates. Six iso-nitrogenous (30.18±0.24) diets incorporated with or without by-products, namely control (without pressmud and molasses), PM5 (5% press mud), PM10 (10% press mud), CM5 (5% cane molasses), CM10 (10% cane molasses), and PC (5% press mud and 5% cane molasses) were fed to the respective treatments at 5% body weight per day. The results revealed no significant difference (P>0.05) in weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) between control, PM5 and CM5. There was no significant effect on whole body composition except ether extract and total carbohydrates. The specific activitiy of α-amylase displayed a significant affect (P<0.05) with elevated level in fish fed PM5. The fish fed CM5 and CM 10 exibited lower amylase activity and were non significant. Protease activity was unaffected by the dietary treatments (P>0.05) with higher activity was recorded in control. The higher activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was observed in PC followed by PM10 and CM10. LDH activity in PM5 displayed non significant with control. The lower activity of glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) was observed in control which was non significant with PC. The higher activity was found to be in CM5 and showed significant with other groups (P<0.05). The result concluded that molasses and pressmud can be included at 5% level in the diet of Labeo rohita fingerlings.