EFFICACY OF PHYTASE SUPPLEMENTATION ON MINERAL DIGESTIBILITY IN LABEO ROHITA FINGERLINGS FED ON CORN GLUTEN MEAL (30%) BASED DIETS

This study was conducted to assess the effects of phytase supplementation on minerals digestibility to Labeo rohita fingerlings that were fed corn gluten meal (30%) based diet. The experimental diet was consisted of 70% reference diet and 30% test ingredient i.e. corn gluten meal contents. The chromic oxide was included at a concentration of 1% as nondigestible marker in the feed. The results of the study showed that the high digestibility (%) of P, Mg, Na, K, Cu and Zn was observed at 750 FTU kg-1 level phytase supplementation and differed significantly (p 0.05) from the reference and other test diets. The present study suggests that the supplementation of feed with phytase enzyme may reduce the need for supplementing minerals, resulting not only lower feed cost but mineral discharges through feces into the aquatic ecosystem.