Effects of Dietary Fish Oil Substitution with Palm Oil on Growth, Survival, and Muscle Proximate Composition of Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton, 1822)

Abstract

A 60-day growth experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of replacing dietary cod liver oil with palm oil on the growth, survival, and muscle proximate composition of the Indian major carp, Cirrhinus mrigala. Five diets were fed to triplicate groups of 20 advanced C. mrigala fry (2.16±0.01 g): 100% cod liver+0% palm (control), 25% palm+75% cod liver, 50% palm+50% cod liver, 75% palm+25% cod liver, and 100% palm+0% cod liver. At the end of the experiment, mean weight gain, average daily growth, specific growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, feed conversion ratio, and percentage survival were assessed. Growth performance and survival were not compromised when fish oil was substituted with palm oil up to 25%. However, beyond this level, growth was significantly retarded (p<0.01). There were no significant (p>0.01) differences in feed efficiency or muscle proximate composition. Results confirm the feasibility of substituting up to 25% dietary fish oil by palm oil in diets for C. mrigala advanced fry without negatively affecting growth or feed utilization efficiency.