The Potential Use of Citric Acid for the Improvement in Growth of Labeo rohita

Abstract

Fish nutritionist have been working to formulate a fish feed with less pollution causing agents. Plants by-products have been used as alternative to fish meal for both the purposes and experiments remain successful for some fish species. The present study was aimed to determine the sunflower meal suitability with citric acid supplementation for Labeo rohita by observing growth parameters. Three diets were prepared as 0, 15 and 30 g/kg citric acid. The fish were fed with experimental diets for two months. Results showed that the fish fed 0% citric acid had low phosphorus and calcium digestibility than that fed higher levels 15 and 30 g/kg of citric acid (p < 0.05). The growth performance of L. rohita was higher at the 30 g/kg supplementation level of citric acid and decreasing trend was observed with the decreasing level of citric acid. The above results indicated that the supplementation of CA could substitute the inclusion of inorganic phosphorus in L. rohita diets and the supplementation level was suggested to be 30 g/kg.