Suitability and efficacy of potato as prebiotic on the growth performance of catla (Catla catla)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the suitability and efficacy of potato as prebiotic compound
on the growth performance and survival rate ofCatla catla. The experiment was carried out under 4 different
treatments (T?, T?, T? and T?) each with 3 replications for 63 days. The diets of T1, T2, T3 and T4
contained 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% potato respectively. All four diets had a constant inclusion level of the
following ingredients: fish meal 30%, rice bran 30%, mustard oil cake 12%, molasses 5%, soybean oil 4%
and vitamin and mineral premix 1%.The final weight (g), weight gain (g), food conversion ratio (FCR),
specific growth rate (%/day) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were compared among the four treatments.
Highest weight gain and specific growth rate were observed in T4 and lowest in T1. Highest FCR
(6.18±0.10) was found in T? and the lowest FCR (3.59±0.18) was found in T?. Highest PER (0.90±0.009)
was found in T? followed by T?, T? and the lowest PER was found in T? (0.55±0.005). Maximum gut
microbiota was found in T4 (9.6×107)and T? (7.5×104) in case of TSA agar media and CFU/ml,
respectively.The best growth performance of C. catla was obtained from 15% potato containing diet. The
study suggests that potato may be a suitable prebiotic for C. catla.