AVAILABILITY OF MINERALS AND CARCASS COMPOSITION OF Catla catla FINGERLINGS FED PHYTASE SUPPLEMENTED MORINGA BY-PRODUCTS MEAL BASED TEST DIET

Present research work was carried out to estimate the influence of phytase supplementation on mineral digestibility of Catla catla fingerlings fed Moringa oleifera by-products meal based diet. Presence of anti-nutritional factors such as phytate in plant by-products reduces the bioavailability of minerals to fish and decreases carcass composition, resulting in poor fish performance. Moringa by-products such as Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) Moringa oleifera seed meal (MOSM) were used as test ingredients to formulate six test diets and were supplemented with phytase levels (0, 300, 600, 900, 1200 and 1500 FTU kg^-1). The fingerlings were fed at the rate of 4% of live wet weight twice a day and faeces were collected from each tank to estimate digestibility of minerals. Carcass composition (CP, EE, GE, Carbohydrates, Ash and Moisture contents) was analyzed using standard methods. On the basis of results it was noted that phytase supplementation showed significant (p<0.05) improvement in bioavailability of minerals as well as whole body composition. Maximum minerals digestibility and higher carcass composition was noted at 900 FTU kg^-1 level of phytase supplemented MOLM+MOSM based test diet. It was concluded that phytase supplementation at 900 FTU kg^-1 level is helpful to develop an eco-friendly and cost effective fish feed by using MOLM+MOSM based diet.

Keywords: MOLM+MOSM, Catla catla, mineral digestibility, carcass composition, phytase