Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Vitamin C on Growth Performance, Feed Utilization and Carcass Composition of Barbus sharpeyi Fingerlings

A study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary vitamin C on growth performance, feed utilization and carcass biochemical composition of Barbus sharpeyi fingerling. Five diets containing (0, 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg kg-1) of ascorbic acid were fed to benni fingerlings (6.96±0.3 g) in triplicate tanks and twice daily for a period of 56 days. The weight gain significantly increased (3.85 g) with enhanced feeding supplementation levels up to 1000 mg kg-1 diet, but no further increase was observed in the experimental treatments with feed supplementation levels, higher than 1000 mg kg-1. Feed conversion ratio was significantly higher (P<0.05) in fish fed with control diet. A general increase in protein efficiency ratio was observed with increase in dietary vitamin C levels. Survival rate (%) did not display any significant difference among the experimental treatments. The body protein content increased significantly with the increase in dietary ascorbic acids levels. Fish fed diets containing 1000 mgkg-1 vitamin C exhibited comparatively higher lipid content (P<0.05). Although, hepatosomatic index (HSI) did not display any significant difference among treatments, VSI of experimental fingerlings was significantly affected by various ascorbic acids levels in the fed diet. Supplementation of vitamin C at 1000 mg kg-1diet enhanced the growth performance and feed utilization of experimental fingerling of B. sharpeyi.