Growth performance and survival of common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) fingerlings fed with protease enzyme supplemented diet

Abstract

Supplementation of feed with exogenous enzymes has been proved to improvise the growth performance of various food animals by improving digestion and utilisation of the feed. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of a protease enzyme on growth performance and survival of fingerlings of common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758). The indoor feeding experiment was conducted for 42 days of rearing period following complete randomized block design with four replicates for each treatment in a laboratory. Five experimental diets namely T0, T1, T2, T3 and T4 supplemented with 0.0 %, 0.1 %, 0.2 %, 0.3 % and 0.4 % of protease enzyme papain respectively were used. Maximum weight gain (191.04 %) and specific growth rate (2.54 %) were observed in fingerlings fed with T2 diet, and it was significantly higher (P < 0.05) from those fingerlings fed with T0, T1 and T4 diets but not significantly different (P > 0.05) from T3 diet. Maximum length gain (27.59 %) was observed in fingerlings fed with T2 diet, and it was significantly higher than only those fingerlings fed with T0 diet. The maximum survival (85.42 %) was recorded for fingerlings fed with T1 diet, and it was similar (P > 0.05) to those fingerlings fed with control and other experimental diets. The study revealed that 0.2 % dietary supplementation of exogenous papain is effective for the better growth performance in terms of length gain, weight gain and specific growth rate of C. carpio fingerlings.