Improvement of nutritive value of sesame oilseed meal in formulated diets for rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlings after fermentation with two phytase-producing bacterial strains isolated from fish gut

Eight isonitrogenous (approximately 35 % crude protein) and isocaloric (17.58 kJ g(-1)) diets incorporating raw and fermented sesame oilseed meal replacing other feed ingredients including fishmeal at 10, 20, 30 and 40 % levels by weight into a fishmeal-based reference diet (RD) were fed to rohu, Labeo rohita, fingerlings (mean initial weight 3.19 +/- A 0.09 g) for 80 days. Two phytase-producing bacterial strains (LF1 and LH1 of Bacillus licheniformis) isolated from the foregut and hindgut regions of adult L. rohita were used for fermentation of oilseed meal for 15 days at 37 +/- A 2 A degrees C. Fermentation of sesame seed meal was effective in significantly reducing the crude fibre content and anti-nutritional factors such as tannins and phytic acid and enhancing available free amino acids, free fatty acids and mineral concentration. In terms of growth, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio, 30 % fermented oilseed meal incorporated diet resulted in a significantly (P < 0.05) better performance of rohu fingerlings. In general, growth and feed utilization efficiencies of diets containing fermented oilseed meal were superior to diets containing raw meal. The apparent digestibility of protein, lipid, ash and minerals (phosphorus, calcium, manganese, copper and iron) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in fish fed diet containing 30 % fermented oilseed meal in comparison with those fed RD. The maximum deposition of protein in the carcass was recorded in fish fed the diet containing 30 % fermented seed meal.