The potential of deoiled sal (Shorea robusta) seed meal as a feedstuff in pelleted feed for Indian major carp, rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlings

Abstract

Ten isonitrogenous (350 g kg^1‐crude protein) diets incorporating raw and soaked deoiled sal (Shorea robusta) seed meal at 200, 300,400, 500 and 600 g kg⁻¹ into a fish‐meal‐based diet were fed to rohu, Labeo rohita (Ham.), fingerlings for 60 days and fish performance was studied. Tannin from raw salseed meal could be reduced from 34 to 7 g kg⁻¹ by soaking in water for 16 h at room temperature. In terms of growth response, food conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio, a diet containing 200 g kg⁻¹ soaked salseed meal resulted in significantly (P < 0.01) the best performance of the fish. Apparent protein digestibility (APD) values decreased with increasing level of oilseed meal. Carcass protein was highest in fish fed diets containing 200 g kg⁻¹ soaked salseed meal. The results showed that deoiled salseed meal can be incorporated in carp diets up to 200 g kg⁻¹ and 300 g kg⁻¹ in raw and treated forms respectively.