Effect of Varied Levels of Dietary Protein on the Breeding Performance of Common Carp Cyprinus carpio

Abstract

Breeding performance of common carp, C. carpio was assessed through a feeding trial using diets containing different levels of protein (25 to 41%). A control diet (diet A) was formulated using 1:1 mixture of rice bran (RB) and groundnut oil cake (GC) with 25% protein, while the test diets with 30% protein (diet B), 35% protein (diet C) and 40% protein (diet D) were developed using a combination of rice bran, groundnut cake and fish meal. All the diets were fortified with a vitamin supplement Vimeral at the rate of 0.01%. The ponds were manured with cowdung at regular intervals over the rearing period to ensure natural production of plankton. The best spawning response (weight loss 21.88% in female and 16.56% in male) with fecundity of 1,15,225 kg-1 was observed in fish fed with diet C. The weight of fertilized egg (2.07 mg), rate of fertilization (78.97%), hatching (78.97%) and hatchling weight (1.90mg) in this treatment were also the best. This study indicates that a protein level of 35% is necessary for common carp brooders through supplemental feed in addition to the natural food produced through fertilization.