REPLACEMENT OF FISH-MEAL BY LOW-COST ANIMAL PROTEIN AS A QUALITY FISHFEED INGREDIENT FOR INDIAN MAJOR CARP, LABEO-ROHITA, FINGERLINGS

Five formulated diets containing 350 g kg(-1) crude protein were prepa red replacing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the fish meal content which si lkworm pupae (Bombyx mori) and clam meat as a dietary protein source, and were fed to Indian major carp (Labeo rohita) fingerlings of 2.0-2. 2 g size under laboratory conditions. A growth study over a period of 90 days showed that a diet containing 50% of its protein as fishmeal h ad significantly higher (P < 0.05) growth with values of 1.64, 1.92, 1 .48 for specific growth rate, food conversion ratio and protein effici ency ratio, respectively. Significantly lower growth (P < 0.05) was ob served with diets having all or none of its protein as fish meal. This experiment with Labeo rohita fingerlings revealed a significantly bet ter utilisation of the diet when half the protein in a fishmeal diet w as replaced by protein in the form of silkworm pupae and clam meat.