DefinePK

Abstract

ABSTRACT The current study was conducted to provide a sustainable and affordable feed for fingerlings of Cirrhinus mrigala by using Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM), as well as to examine the effects of phytase supplementation on growth and digestibility of nutrients. MOLM was used as basal diet. Total six test diets were prepared with 0, 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 FTUkg-1 of phytase supplementation. For every treatment, 15 fingerlings were distributed triplicate tanks. The fingerlings were given feed at 5% of their daily wet weight every day. It was noted that test diet-V (800 FTU kg-1 phytase) resulted in maximum weight gain (WG) (17.95±0.1g), weight gain percentage (WG%) (248.78±2.84) and minimum feed conversion ratio (FCR) (1.13±0.01). In the case of nutrient digestibility, best results were given by Test diet-V as crude protein (CP) (78.06±0.22%), gross energy (GE) (67.68±0.26%) and ether extract (EE) (81.19±0.85%) were highest in that group. Therefore, this study concluded that the phytase supplemented MOLM resulted in improved growth and nutrient digestibility of C. mrigala and optimal level of phytase supplementation was 800 FTU kg-1.