Effect of Guar (Cyamopsis Tetragonolobus) Meal Based Diets on Growth Performance and Feed Utilization in Asian Catfish, Pangasianodon Hypophthalmus Fingerlings

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the potential of guar meal as a substitute for soybean meal in the diet of Asian catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. Six experimental diets of isonitrogenous and isolipidic were formulated to contain guar meal at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% level by replacing soybean meal at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% respectively. An experimental diet containing 20% soybean meal and 0% guar meal was used as a control diet. Triplicate group of 15 fingerlings (2.74 ± 0.07 g mean initial body weight) were fed with each diet for a period of 45 days in a completely randomized design under tank condition. Analysis of proximate composition showed that the crude protein and ether extract content of guar meal were slightly higher than those of soybean meal (50.11 vs 47.09% and 4.90 vs 3.41% respectively), but lower total ash content (4.71 vs. 6.23%). The results of 45 days feeding experiment showed that there were no significant (p ＞ 0.05) difference in various growth parameters namely, percent weight gain, average daily growth coefficient, specific growth rate and daily growth coefficient of fingerlings that fed with diets containing guar meal up to 10% inclusion level. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly lowered (p ＜ 0.05) in the fingerlings fed with diets containing more than 10% of guar meal (GM 15 and GM 20). Similarly, the survival rate was also reduced significantly (p ＜ 0.05) in GM 15 (58.33%) and GM 20 (41.64%) dietary groups compared to control group (97.77%). Results of the present study concludes that guar meal can be included up to 10% by replacing soybean meal at 50% during feed formulation for Asian catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus fingerlings without affecting the growth performance and feed utilization.