Dietary Tryptophan Requirement for the Growth of Rohu, Labeo rohita

ABSTRACT

The dietary tryptophan requirement for rohu, Labeo rohita (an Indian major carp) was determined by conducting a growth study. Diets (40% protein) contained casein and gelatin supplemented with crystalline amino acids to provide an amino acid profile similar to rohu muscle, except for tryptophan. The experimental diets contained graded levels of tryptophan (0.15, 0.38, 0.63, 0.88, 1.13, 1.38% dietary protein). Each test diet was fed to triplicate groups of rohu fingerlings twice daily to satiation for 8 weeks. The dietary tryptophan requirement estimated by employing broken-line regression analysis was 1.13% of dietary protein. Maximum survival, food efficiency, and specific growth rate were obtained by fish fed the diet containing above level of tryptophan.