Effect of solid-state fermented aquafeed on growth performance, digestive enzymes and innate immunity of rohu, labeo rohita

Abstract

Background: There is a scope of increasing the aquaculture production by use of fish feed produced from non-conventional ingredients and also improvement in the quality of feed by solid-state fermentation. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of solid-state fermented aquafeed on growth performance, digestive enzymes and innate immunity of rohu, Labeo rohita. Methods: Fish feed containing sesame oil cake and mahua oil cake was fermented through solid-state fermentation by yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and then compared with a non-fermented control feed with the same formula. Result: Solid-state fermentation increased crude protein (CP), decreased crude fibre (CF) and also lowered (p<0.05) anti-nutritional factors (ANF) of fish feed. After five months of experimental feeding, weight gain and digestibility of nutrients like dry matter, crude protein and ether extract were significantly higher (p<0.05) and feed conversion ratio was significantly lower in fish of fermented feed fed group than the control group. Furthermore, non-specific immune parameters such as lysozyme, myeloperoxidase and haemolytic activities and intestinal enzyme activity of fish fed with fermented feed increased significantly (p<0.05) compared to fish fed control feed. It is concluded that feeding of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermented feed could improve the growth, digestive enzymes activity and immunity of Rohu, Labeo rohita.