Growth Performance of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) Fingerlings Fed Diets Replacing Soybean Meal with Fish Silage Protein at Different Levels

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate performance of fish silage as a potential source of animal origin protein to replace plant origin soybean protein at different levels in the diets of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fingerlings. Five experimental diets were prepared to replace soybean meal with fish silage @ 15 (D2), 30 (D3), 45 (D4) and 60% (D5) against control (D1) diet. No significant effect on water quality was recorded due to replacement of soybean meal with fish silage protein at different levels. Significantly (P<0.05) high specific growth rate was recorded in group D4 (0.77±0.03) and protein efficiency ratio in D3 (0.71±0.008) whereas minimum feed conversion ratio was found in group D4 (2.22±0.08). In present study, replacing soybean meal with 45% fish silage containing 34.98% protein (D4) showed optimum incorporation level in the diet of common carp fingerlings.