Influence of ‘Stafac-20’ on Growth, Carcass Composition and activity of Digestive Enzymes in Mahseer, Tor Khudree (Sykes) Fingerlings

By : B. Manoj Kumar , P. Keshavanath

Page No: 221-223

Abstract
Stafac-20, a commercial growth promoting feed additive containing 2% virginiamycin, was added at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 ppm levels to the basal diet having 35% protein, prepared incorporating fish meal, groundnut oilcake, rice bran, tapioca flour and vitamin-mineral mixture. The effect of these diets (T0 , T1 , T2 , T3, T4 and T5 ) was evaluated on growth, body composition and digestive enzyme activity of mahseer, Tor khudree fingerlings through an experiment conducted over 140 days. Fingerlings of average weight 1.4 g + 0.04 stocked in 25 m3 outdoor cement tanks were fed on the test diets in triplicate. Addition of the additive resulted in significant (P<0.05) increase in fish weight gain, the best being with 60 ppm Stafac-20 inclusion. The highest fish survival, feed conversion efficiency, RNA: DNA ratio and net fish production were obtained in this treatment. Body composition and digestive enzyme activity were positively affected in the treated fish. The results indicate the beneficial effects of adding Stafac-20 to the diet of mahseer.

Authors :
B. Manoj Kumar
School of Fisheries Resource Management and Harvest Technology , Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Panangad-682 506, India

P. Keshavanath
College of Fisheries, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Mangalore-575 002, India.