Effect of Feed Restriction on Growth Compensation and Muscle Composition in Fingerlings of Labeo bata (Hamilton, 1822)

Abstract

Study reports the impact of feed restriction on
growth of fingerlings of Labeo bata during experimental
period of nine weeks. The fish were
subjected to three different treatments (R1, R2 and
R3), where they were fed at 2% body weight every
day for of 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks respectively
and subsequently fed 5% of body weight as in
control. There was significant difference in weight
gain (92.31% in R1, 82.52% in R2 and 64.53% in R3
considering 100% in control) of fish in different
treatments (p<0.01). The weight gain and specific
growth rate in fish of R1 and R2 groups did not
exhibit significant difference (p<0.05) compared to
the control. Proximate composition of nutrients in
muscle of fish of treatments R1 and R2 did not
exhibit significant difference compared to control.
Feed consumption in treatment R1 and R2 was
statistically lower in comparison to control indicating
one and two weeks of feed restriction can reduce
feed consumption as substantially without hampering
the growth in fingerlings of Labeo bata.