~ 955 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2019; 7(3): 955-959 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2019; 7(3): 955-959 © 2019 JEZS Received: 18-01-2019 Accepted: 30-04-2019 Abhishek Srivastava Ph.D. Scholar, Presently Assistant Professor, Fisheries, Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, Punjab, India Meera D Ansal Sr. Scientist-cum-Head, Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, (GADVASU), Ludhiana, Punjab, India Sachin Onkar Khairnar Assistant Scientist, Fisheries, Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, Punjab, India Correspondence Meera D Ansal Sr. Scientist-cum-Head, Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, (GADVASU), Ludhiana, Punjab, India Effect of amla ( Phyllanthus emblica ) fruit powder supplemented feed on growth performance and proximate composition of an Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Ham.) fingerlings Abhishek Srivastava, Meera D Ansal and Sachin Onkar Khairnar Abstract Efficacy of amla (Phyllanthus emblica) supplemented feeds, on survival, growth and flesh quality of an Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Ham.) fingerlings, was evaluated through an outdoor study in cemented tanks (80m 2 ) with stocking density of 1 fingerling/m 2 (80 fingerlings/tank). Fingerlings were fed with feeds containing 0 (T0), 1 (T1), 2 (T2) and 3 (T3) % of amla fruit powder (AFP) for 180 days @ 2% of total fish biomass. Feed T0 (without AFP) served as control. In all the treatments, the water quality parameters remained well within the recommended range. In AFP fed treatments (T1- T3), 95.00 to 96.88% fish survival was recorded compared to 92.50% in control (T0). Net weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio improved significantly (P≤0.05) in all the AFP fed treatments and was best at 3% inclusion level (122.08 g, 1.44%, 1.65 and 2.46, respectively). AFP supplementation also improved condition factor of fish significantly (P≤0.05) at 2 (T2) and 3% (T3) inclusion levels. Further, dietary inclusion of AFP also improved flesh quality significantly (P≤ 0.05). Total protein, carbohydrate and ash content was recorded maximum (13.79, 3.57 and 1.51g/100g, respectively) and moisture content was minimum (78.34%) in fish fed with feed containing 3% AFP (T3), while total lipid content was recorded maximum (2.69 g/100g, respectively) with 2% AFP feed. Among all AFP treatments, 3% AFP inclusion level was found best in terms of growth enhancement and flesh quality improvement in L. rohita fingerlings. Keywords: Amla, flesh quality, growth, rohu, survival Introduction Nutritional innovations are one of the technological interventions required for achieving production targets in livestock sector, including aquaculture. India’s total fish production in 2015-16 was 10.76 mmt, out of which aquaculture food fish production was 5.70 mmt [1] and the domestic demand is expected to cross 16 mmt mark in 2025 [2] . As the capture resources are already overexploited, there is limited scope of any significant increase in production from these resources. Hence, aquaculture sector is expected to fill the gap to achieve the said demand. To improve fish productivity, various chemical and artificial feed additives are being used in aquaculture but due to its negative effect on environment, fish and consumer, focus on use of natural feed additive such as herb and herbal products is increasing day by day [3, 4] . Among traditional Indian herbs, amla or Indian gooseberry ( Phyllanthus emblica Linn. or Emblica officinalis Gaertn.), belonging to family Euphorbiaceae [5, 6] , is a highly nutritive and richest source of ascorbic acid/vitamin C among all fruits after barbados cherry [7] . It contains very important phytochemicals like phyllaemblic compounds, alkaloids (Phyllantidine and phyllantine), gallic acid, ellagic acid, flavonoids (kaempferol), hydrolysable tannins (Emblicanin A and B), pectin, quercetin, vitamin C and various polyphenolic compounds, which are responsible for its antioxidant, immunostimulatory, anticarcinogenic, antitumour, antigenotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities [8,5] and has been used as one of the important constituents in ‘Rasayana’ (an Ayurvedic preparation which promote health and longevity) and triphla [9, 5] . It strengthens digestion, absorption, liver function, assimilation of food, enhances protein synthesis and supports the reproductive system of both male and female [8] . Due to its high nutritive value, use of amla and its products as dietary supplementation in fish feed has been studied by several researchers and has obtained significant results with respect to growth, survival, immunity and health in different fin fish species [10-14] ,