Utilization of plant based attractants in Catla catla fingerlings

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of plant based attractants in the feed of Catla catla fingerlings (av. weight 5.64±0.05g). The formulated feed contained mustard cake, soyabean meal, rice bran, vegetable oil, vitamin and mineral mixture with 1% feed attractant and fed 90 days period. The different attractants used in feeds were: Feed 1(Control), Feed 2 (Ekangi), Feed 3 (Kharboj), Feed 4 (Awbel), Feed 5 (Tambul) and Feed 6 (Latakasturi). The net weight gain (g) were 1.05±0.15, 1.08±0.10, 1.23±0.48, 1.70±0.40, 2.67±0.17 and 1.66±0.05 respectively in Feed 1 to 6 respectively. The growth study with different attractants revealed that the net weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) were significantly higher (P<0.05) in catla fingerlings fed Feed-5(Tambul) compared to other dietary treatments. Carcass proximate composition did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among the groups fed with different plant based feed attractants. It may be concluded that out of the plant based attractants tested in the present experiment, Feed 5 having Tambul at 1% level in the feed of catla fingerlings performed better in terms of growth performance.