Influence of dietary cholecalciferol levels on its digestibility in Deccan mahseer, Tor khudree (Sykes)

The influence of vitamin, cholecalciferol on apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of diets in Tor khudree was evaluated. Cholecalciferol was included in the experimental diet at three levels of 600 IU, 1200 IU and 1800 IU/kg. TheADCs of dry matter, organic matter, energy, protein, lipid, fiber, ash, calcium and phosphorus increased linearly as inclusion level of dietary cholecalciferol increased. However, no significant (P<0.05) difference in the ADC of nitrogenfree extract (NFE) was observed among the control and experimental dietsand found to decrease with increase in cholecalciferol in the diets. In comparison to fish fed with the control diet, fish fed with diet containing 600 IU/kg level of cholecalciferol, the ADCs of dry matter, organic matter, protein, fiber, ash andphosphorus were significantly (P<0.05) higher. The ADCs of dry matter, organic matter, energy, protein, lipid, fiber, ash and calcium were significantly (P<0.05) higher in fish fed with the higher inclusion level of cholecalciferol of 1800IU/kg compared to fish fed with that of 600 IU and 1200 IU/kg level and control diet. While fish fed with the diets supplemented at 600 IU and 1200 IU/kg cholecalciferol exhibited no significant (P<0.05) difference among the ADCs ofall the parameters analysed and the ADCs of dry matter, organic matter, protein, fiber, ash and phosphorus were significantly (P<0.05) higher and that of energy, lipid, calcium and NFE were insignificantly (P<0.05) different fromthat of the fish fed with the control diet. However, in case of the ADC of phosphorus no significant (P<0.05) difference was observed among the three cholecalciferol inclusion levels, though they were observed to be significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of the fish fed with the control diet. Results showedthat the ADCs of most nutrients were significantly better at 1800 IU/kg diet of cholecalciferol inclusion level, indicating that cholecalciferol could be used at the 1800 IU/kg diet inclusion rate in deccan mahseer feed formulation