Effect of dietary isoleucine level on growth, protein retention efficiency, haematological parameter, lysozyme activity and serum antioxidant status of fingerling<i>Channa punctatus</i>(Bloch)
Yusra Sharf, Mukhtar A. Khan
Abstract
Isoleucine requirement of fingerling Channa punctatus (6.74 ± 0.09 g) was estimated by feeding seven trial diets (450 g/kg CP, 14.73 kJ/g DE) containing 3.8, 7.5, 11.3, 15.1, 19.3, 23.2 and 27.4 g/kg of isoleucine for 12 weeks. Growth and haematological parameters increased with the increasing concentrations of dietary isoleucine up to 16 g/kg. Carcass protein and fat increased significantly with the increasing concentrations of dietary isoleucine up to 16 g/kg and then stabilized. Moisture content showed reverse trend to that of carcass fat. Hepatosomatic index was found to be highest at 4 g/kg of dietary isoleucine. Viscerosomatic index and condition factor increased significantly with increasing levels of isoleucine up to 16 g/kg dry diet. Serum protein, lysozyme and superoxide dismutase activities were also found to increase significantly up to 16 g/kg dry diet. Significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities was observed by increasing concentrations of dietary isoleucine up to 16 g/kg. Based on quadratic regression analysis of absolute weight gain, feed conversion ratio, protein retention and isoleucine retention efficiencies against varying concentrations of isoleucine, the optimum isoleucine requirement ranging between 17.95 and 18.39 g/kg dry diet, corresponding to 39.88–40.86 g/kg dietary protein, is recommended for maximizing growth of C. punctatus.