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

摘要

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 (R_1, R_2 and R_3) 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 R_1, 82.52% in R_2 and 64.53% in R_3 considering 100% in control) of fish in different treatments (p<0.01). The weight gain and specific growth rate in fish of R_1 and R_2 groups did not exhibit significant difference (p<0.05) compared to the control. Proximate composition of nutrients in muscle of fish of treatments R_1 and R_2 did not exhibit significant difference compared to control. Feed consumption in treatment R_1 and R_2 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.