EFFECT OF REPLACEMENT OF FISHMEAL WITH SOME CHEAP ANIMAL PROTEIN SOURCES ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF JUVENILES OF LABEO ROHITA

During the present investigation, various animal proteins were tested for their ability to replace the expensive fishmeal with some cheap and alternate protein sources. Three experimental diets i.e A1, A2 and A3 were formulated with 40% crude protein using various ingredients like rice bran, wheat bran, mustard oil cake, silkworm pupae and Slaughter house waste and were fed to juveniles of Labeorohita for a period of 60 days. In diet A1, fishmeal is the only protein source, in diet A2, fishmeal is replaced by silkworm pupae, in diet A3, fishmeal is replaced by slaughter house waste. Result showed that the average weight gain, specific growth rate, percentage weight gain were lowerin group fed with diet A2. However, no distinct variations were recorded between the treatments provided with diet A1 containing only fishmeal and diet A3 containing slaughter house waste. The results obtained recommended that slaughter house waste can replace the costly fishmeal up to 50% n the diets of juveniles of Labeorohita. Thus, the cost of production could be greatly reduced, thereby enhancing the economic returns.