Effect of fish meal replacement with sunflower meal on growth indices and body composition of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of fish meal replacement with sunflower meal on growth performance, feed efficiency and body proximate composition of common carp fingerlings. Five experimental diets with replacement levels of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of fish meal with sunflower meal were formulated with equal protein, fat and energy contents. Fish meal proportion of control diet was 28%. Fish with average weight of 3.03 ± 0.36 g were distributed in 15 fiberglass tanks. After 10 weeks of feeding by experimental diets, growth performance and feed efficiency were evaluated and 6 fish per tank were taken for body composition analysis. According to the results, highest final weight was derived in 25% treatment (p0.05), but in 100% treatment significant decline in growth and feed efficiency was observed (p0.05) among treatments. Results of this study showed, it is possible to replace fish meal with sunflower meal up to 75% in common carp fingerlings diet without negative impacts on growth performance, feed efficiency and body composition.