EFFECT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA MEAL ON THE GROWTH, BODY COMPOSITION AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY OF LABEO ROHITA

Noor Khan* and Hussain Mehdi
*Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore-Pakistan. Email: noorkhan@uvas.edu.pk

In the present study, various concentration of Moringa oleifera meal was explored as protein source on the growth, body composition and apparent digestibility on Labeo rohita fingerlings. The experimental fish (Labeo rohita) fingerlings with an average body weight of 5.7g were stocked in eight glass aquaria. Twenty two fingerlings were stocked in each aquarium. Four diets designated as treatments; T1, T2, T3, and T4 were prepared on basis of Moringa oleifera inclusion level as 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% by replacing fish meal and fed to fish at 4% body weight for eight weeks. The net weight gain recorded was 11.0 g,10.0 g, 13.0 g and 8.0 g inT1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Statistical analysis reveals significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) among  treatments.  The FCR and SGR values for each treatment were recorded as 1.81. 2.28, 2.25, 3.1 and 2.15, 2.01, 1.90, 1.40 and exhibited significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) among treatments. Smimlarly, the CP digestibility in T2 was found significantly higher (43.64) followed by T1 (38.66) and lowest in T3 (12.36) whereas the fat digestibility was significantly higher in T4 (98.78) followed by T3 (44.16), T2, and in T1. In conclusion, inclusion of Moringa oilefera upto 20% in fish feed implies significant effect on fish growth validating it as favourable feed.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera, Labeo rohita, growth, body composition, apparent digestibility