Abstract

Biotechnological research and development are moving at a very fast pace. The application of biotechnology in the fisheries sector is a neoteric practice. Nevertheless, it is a promising area to enhance fish production. Efficacy of exogenous nutrizymes in fish feed is being reinvestigated in the present time. A feeding experiment of 90 days was conducted to assess the efficacy of exogenous nutrizyme supplement diet on weight gain and growth performance of Labeo rohita fingerlings. Three supplementary diets (D1, D2 and D3) were prepared containing 30±0.6% crude protein, 4.8±2% crude fat and 11.6±0.2% crude fibre. Experimental diets D1, D2 and D3 were supplemented with papain at the level of 5, 10 and 12 g per kg of feed respectively. Feeding was done at the rate of 5%, twice a day. Rearing of fingerlings on diet D2 resulted in better growth of L. rohita fingerlings compared to those with the experimental diet, D3 and D1 followed by control diet D0 which was without any supplementation. Comparison of growth performance was done on basis of growth rate, nutrient digestibility, gross protein retention (GPR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) apparent net protein utilization (ANPU) and survival percent.

Key words: Nutrizymes, growth, papain, Labeo rohita, fingerlings.