Abstract
The present research was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary formic acid and vitamin D-3 on growth performance and muscle proximate analyses of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Four experimental diets viz. FD1, FD2, FD3 and FD4 having formic acid (%) and vitamin D-3 (IU/Kg) 0, 0; 2, 0; 0, 5000 and 2, 5000, respectively were prepared. Fish were fed with experimental diets for 90 days. Growth performance of fish was observed on fortnightly basis throughout the trail. At the end of feeding trail, fish were dissected to obtain the samples of muscles for further analysis. Two-way analysis of variance under RCBD were applied on obtained data. Results demonstrated that growth performance (weight gain, specific growth rate and absolute weight gain) of C. idella fingerlings showed significant improvement by feeding formic acid and vitamin D-3. Result showed that C. idella fed with vitamin D-3 increased the crude protein, ash and decreased the fat contents in muscles while same result was observed by supplementation of formic acid. In conclusion, dietary formic acid and vitamin D-3 improves the growth performance and muscle proximate analysis for the C. idella fingerlings.