EFFECT OF FEEDING GUAVA (PSIDIUM GUAJAVA LINN) LEAF MEAL ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, SURVIVAL AND DIGESTIBILITY OF LABEO ROHITA (HAMILTON, 1822) FINGERLINGS

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary protein supplement, Guava (Psidium guajava Linn) leaf meal on the growth, survival rate and digestibility in Labeo rohita fingerlings. The study was conducted for a period of 60 days. The five levels of dietary supplementation of guava leaf meal was incorporated in basal feed 0 % (T₁), 0.05% (T₂), 0.1 % (_T3), 0.15 % (T₄), and 0.2 % (T₅) by replacing equal amount of basal diet. Fishes were fed at the rate of 3 per cent of their body weight in split does in the form of pellets. Feeding was done 2 times in a day. The growth performance in terms of weight gain (g) (82.293±0.8 ^e), % weight gain (167.040±1.908^e), net gain in length (8.950±0.015cm) specific growth rate (1.161±0.002 %^c) and gross conversion efficiency (GCE) (0.592±0.005 ^d) was observed significantly (P<0.05) highest in T5 compare to control. Along with growth T₅  also indicated better food use with a low food conversion ratio (FCR) (1.689±0.01^a). A 100% survival rate was reported throughout the research period. The apparent protein digestibility was reported significantly higher in (72.812±0.28^c) in T₅ and lowest (66.437±0.87^a) T₁ (control). The current study showed that guava leaf meal at a rate of 0.2% in the fish diet had beneficial impacts on growth and digestibility of Labeo rohita fingerlings.