Effect of Varying Protein Levels on the Growth of Indian Major Carp Rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton)

A forty-nine day feeding experiment conduced to determine protein requirement of fingerlings of Labeo rohita (average weight 1.830.02 g) feeding on four formulated diets with varying protein levels (25, 30, 35 and 40%) using slaughter house waste as the major protein source. In terms of growth, food conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, survival and ratios of protein and lipid deposition in muscle, diet containing 30% protein level revealed a significantly (p<0.01) better performance of the fish in comparison with the fish fed on other diets containing lower or higher protein levels. These findings suggest that about 30 percent crude protein with 370 kcal/100 g energy content in diet appears to be sufficient for obtaining optimum growth in Labeo rohita.