EVALUATION OF POULTRY-FEATHER MEAL AS A DIETARY-PROTEIN SOURCE FOR INDIAN MAJOR CARP, LABEO-ROHITA FRY

The suitability of poultry feather meal (PFM) as a substitute for diet ary fish meal protein in the diet of Indian major carp was evaluated. Four experimental diets were formulated with PFM replacing 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the fish meal protein. The control diet was prepared with fish meal as the sole source of protein. All the diets were isonitrog enous with 35% protein. A nine-week trial was conducted under laborato ry conditions. There were no significant differences among the growth responses of carp fry fed control, 25% PFM and 50% PFM diets but growt h from these diets was significantly higher than from the other diets. The poorest response was observed for the 100% PFM diet. Similar tren ds were also observed in feed conversion and protein utilization. The results of the present study indicate that hydrolyzed poultry-feather meal can be used at 20% of the diet level (i.e., up to 50% of total di etary protein) for L. rohita fry without compromising growth and feed conversion. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.