Growth performance and health status of pangas catfish (pangasianodon hypophthalmus sauvage, 1878 fingerlings) fed on fish silage and linseed oil supplemented diets

The study (150 days) was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of fish silage as potential animal protein source in grow out diet (120 days) along with linseed oil (@ 5% in all diets) in finishing diet (30 days) for Pangas catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) in outdoor cemented tanks (80 m³ ). Five experimental diets were prepared; out of which, in two diets fishmeal was replaced with fish (formic acidfermented) silage @ 50% and 100%; in two diets plant protein ingredients (soybean and groundnut meal) were replaced with fish silage @ 25% and 50%; one diet was prepared with mixture of only plant protein ingredients and having no animal protein source. To compare the efficiency of fish silage in experimental diets, control diet was prepared without fish silage but having fish meal. The growth performance and feed efficiency of pangas enhanced in fish silage supplemented diets with significantly higher values for NWG, SGR and PER fish silage @ 50% (217.14, 1.00 and 3.08) and minimum value of FCR (2.37). Improved health status of fish in terms of haematological (Hb and Ht) and biochemical (blood serum protein, albumin and globulin) parameters also indicated significant improvement in diet having 50% of fish silage as replacement to plant protein sources. Antioxidant status in terms of SOD (0.54 U mgl^-1 Hb) and LPO (0.78 nmol MDAg Hb^-1) also showed significant increase and decrease in this diet. The overall results of present study revealed fish silage as a potential alternative protein ingredient mixed with linseed oil for Pangas catfish in terms of improved growth, feed efficiency and health status.