Use of Tomato, Carrot, and Beetroot Powder as Fish Feed Additive and Their Effects on Growth, Carotenoid Deposition, Muscle Composition, and Palatability of Barbonymus Gonionotus (Silver Barb)

Abstract

Abstract The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of three plant-based dietary pigment sources on the growth, carotene deposition, muscle quality, and palatability of Barbonymus gonionotus. A 90-day feeding trial was conducted in twelve cages under four treatments and three replicates. A commercial feed was used as control (CF), where three other feeds were formulated by adding 2% tomato (TM), carrot (CR), and beetroot (BR) powder to the commercial feed. Fifteen B. gonionotus juveniles with average weight ranging from 75.31 ± 6.43g to 76.44 ± 6.51g were stocked in each cage and the experimental feeds were supplied at 5% of their body mass. Fish were sampled fortnightly and growth and feed utilization indices were estimated at the end of the trial. The highest mean weight gain (193.89 ± 12.31g) and specific growth rate (1.41 ± 0.08%) were found in CR while the lowest in CF (124.35 ± 9.20g and 1.07 ± 0.07%). No significant difference was found in the survival rate among the treatments. CR also showed the best feed conversion (1.59 ± 0.16), and protein efficiency ratio (3.07 ± 0.31) followed by TM, BR, and finally CF. Significantly higher carotenoid content was recorded in CR (4.31 ± 0.30mg/g) while the lowest was found in CF(0.29 ± 0.19mg/g). Results of proximate composition analysis of fish muscle showed no significant difference across the treatments. For the palatability test, a significantly higher organoleptic score was recorded in CR (25.54 ± 0.57) while the lowest was found in CF (19.52 ± 0.77). The study concludes that 2% carrot powder supplementation in feed is more suitable for enhancing the growth, flesh color, and palatability of B. gonionotus. Trial Registration No.: RU-MSR1611067151