Effect of Feed Restriction on Growth Compensation and Muscle Composition in Fingerlings of Labeo bata (Hamilton, 1822)

Abstract

Study reports the impact of feed restriction on growth of fingerlings of Labeo bata during experimental period of nine weeks. The fish were subjected to three different treatments (R1, R2 and R3), where they were fed at 2% body weight every day for of 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks respectively and subsequently fed 5% of body weight as in control. There was significant difference in weight gain (92.31% in R1, 82.52% in R2 and 64.53% in R3 considering 100% in control) of fish in different treatments (p<0.01). The weight gain and specific growth rate in fish of R1 and R2 groups did not exhibit significant difference (p<0.05) compared to the control. Proximate composition of nutrients in muscle of fish of treatments R1 and R2 did not exhibit significant difference compared to control. Feed consumption in treatment R1 and R2 was statistically lower in comparison to control indicating one and two weeks of feed restriction can reduce feed consumption as substantially without hampering the growth in fingerlings of Labeo bata.