EFFECT OF VARYING LEVELS OF PROTEIN FROM DIFFERENT ANIMAL SOURCES ON GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF CARP, CIRRHINUS MRIGALA, REARED IN CEMENTED CISTERNS.

Rehana Iqbal,1,* Muhammad Ali,2 Naeem Tariq Narejo3 and Kashif Umer1
1Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya, University, Multan
2Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Bahauddin Zakariya, University, Multan.
3Department of Fresh Water Biology and Fisheries, University of Sindh, Jamshoro.
rehanaiqbal82@gmail.com

A study was undertaken to determine the effect of protein from different animal sources on the growth and body composition of Cirrhinus mrigala. A total of 210 Cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings were distributed in completely randomized way into six treatments with three replicates each. Six experimental protein diets of varying protein level were formulated utilizing fish and chicken waste viz., fish as protein source like fishmeal with 30% protein (FM30), fishmeal with 35% protein (FM35) and fishmeal with 40% protein (FM40). Similarly chicken waste as protein source like chicken meal with 30% protein (CW30), chicken meal with 35% protein (CW35) and chicken meal with 40% protein (CW40). Controlled group diet contained a balanced mixture of proteins from both animal sources. The daily feed ration was 8% body weight of fish. Highly significant (P<0.001) results were observed with respect to growth and body composition parameters. Chicken waste feeds showed better BWG, SGR, FER and PER over fish meal. With respect to body composition, chicken waste group showed higher %water content than other feeding group. Fat content was higher in FM40. In the same way protein content was higher in control group which was not also significantly (p>0.05) different from FM30, FM35 FM40 and CW40. In conclusion, CW30 showed better growth performance of C. mrigala reared in cemented cisterns.