Efficacy of nano-Cr particles supplemented sunflower meal based diets on growth performance, digestibility and hematology of catla catla fingerlings

Abstract

Molecules at nano size possesses novel properties regarding absorbance and surface activity, so the aim of research was to estimate the impact of Cr nanoparticles on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and hematological parameters of C. catla fingerlings fed nano- Cr particles supplemented sunflower meal based diets. The experiment was consisted on seven test diets on the basis of supplementation of nano Cr graded levels (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 mg Kg-1). Chromic oxide was used as an inert marker. Fingerlings were fed at the rate of 5% of their live wet weight. Maximum improvement in the growth performance (weight gain 197%, FCR 1.49, SGR 1.21 and survival 100%), nutrient digestibility (crude protein 71% and gross energy 69%) and hematological parameters (WBCs 7.87 ×103mm-3, RBCs 3.04 ×106mm-3 and Platelets 67) were observed in the fingerlings fed with test diet supplemented with 2 mg kg-1 nano Cr while crude fat digestibility (79%) was found maximum at test diet supplemented with 1.5 mg kg-1 of nano Cr which were significantly different from fish fed with control and other test diets. It was concluded that the supplementation of Nano-Cr particles at the rate of 2 mg kg-1 is the best one to improve growth performance, nutrient digestibility and hematological parameters of C. catla fingerlings fed sunflower meal based diets.