Effect of plant feed ingredients (soybean and sunflower meal) on the growth and body composition of Labeo rohita

A 90-day feeding try out was conducted to estimate the effect of test diet 1 (soybean meal), test diet 2 (sunflower meal) and reference diet on the growth and meat quality of Labeo rohita. Two replicates for each diet were followed. Fish fed on test diet 1 gained highest average body weight (5.75 ± 0.08g) followed by test diet 2 (4.72 ± 0.3g) and reference diet (2.88 ± 0.07g) and statistical differences among effects of three diets were highly significant. Similarly, average length obtained by rohu fingerlings was highest (5.2 ± 0.4 cm) on test diet 1 followed by test diet 2 (4.7 ± 0.45 cm) and reference diet (2.8 ± 0.05 cm) showing non-significant differences among diets. Dry matter, crude fat, ash and gross energy deposition was highest in experimental fish body raised on reference diet while ash content deposition was higher for test diet 1 compared to test diet 2 and gross energy retention for test diet 2 was better than test diet 1. These findings can be concluded as sunflower meal and soybean meal can be effectively used in the feed formulation of Labeo rohita replacing expensive fish meal.