ESTIMATION OF APPARENT DIGESTIBILITY COEFFICIENTS OF SOYBEAN MEAL BASED DIETS WITH DIFFERENT PROTEIN LEVELS FOR LABEO ROHITA

The apparent digestibility coefficients of dietary protein levels of reference diet and soybean meal based diets were estimated for Labeo rohita. Three test diets and three reference diets having 28, 30 and 32% crude protein levels were prepared. Chromic oxide was used as an inert marker for the evaluation of digestibility. Ten acclimatized fingerlings were stocked in 70L water tank system and fed twice daily at the rate of 2% wet body weight. Water level was maintained at 40 cm throughout the experimental period of eight weeks. The apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude fat and gross energy of reference and test diets were significantly different (p 0.05) except crude protein. It was concluded that the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fat and gross energy was higher at 32% dietary protein level.