COMPARATIVE STUDY OF REPLACEMENT OF MAIZE GLUTEN WITH RICE BRAN (3:1 AND 1:3) FEED SUPPLEMENT: EFFECT ON FISH GROWTH IN COMPOSITE CULTURE

The experiment was conducted to examine the effect of mixed feeding schedule with varying dietary protein levels on the growth performance of fishes in composite culture, using two earthen ponds. Both the ponds were stocked with 100 Labeo rohita, 50 Cirrhinus mrigala and 25 Ctenopharyngodon idella each. In pond-1 (T1) and pond-2 (T2) the fish was supplemented with maize gluten (30% protein) and rice bran (8% protein) with 3:1 and 1:3 ratio, respectively. The fish was fed once daily at the rate of 1% of body weight. Due to high protein contents of feed, comparison of means showed significantly increased average body weight, average standard length, average fork length and average total length in T1 than T2. The gross (6373.20 kg) and net (2587.67 kg) fish production was also higher in T1 than gross (4499.38 kg) and net (2042.18 kg) fish production in T2 per hectare per year, respectively. In conclusion, Ctenopharyngodon idella performed better in both experimental ponds as compared to indigenous Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala while 3:1 ratio of maize gluten and rice bran showed better results over 1:3 ratio due to difference in overall protein contents of feed.