Efficacy of garlic powder as a growth promoting feed additive for higher growth and improved flesh quality in an Indian Major Carp, Labeo rohita (Ham.) fingerlings

Abstract

The present study (180 days) was carried out to assess the possibility of utilizing garlic powder (GP) as feed additive for improving survival, growth and flesh quality of rohu (Labeo rohita Ham.) stocked in outdoor cemented tanks of 80m2 (80 fingerlings tank-1). Fish were fed @ 2% of total fish biomass daily with garlic powder (GP) supplemented feeds (@ 0, 1, 2 and 3%) in T0, T1, T2 and T3 treatments, respectively. T0 (without GP) served as control. Water quality in all the treatments remained within optimum levels for carp culture and survival of fish improved with GP supplementation. Significantly higher net weight gain, specific growth rate and flesh protein content (p≤ 0.05) were recorded in all GP treatments (T1-T3) and was highest at 2% (20g kg-1 feed) inclusion level, being 57.67, 24.79 and 39.6% higher as compare to control, respectively. Although, GP supplementation increased the feed cost, but growth increment compensated for the cost, indicating that GP can be incorporated in rohu, fingerlings feed @ 20g kg-1 feed (2%) for improved growth, flesh quality and fish production, hence higher income thereof.