Apparent digestibility and nutritional performance of bakery waste produced in Punjab Pakistan for Labeo rohita fingerlings

This study aimed to examine the impact of bakery waste supplementation on the nutrient digestibility and performance metrics of rohu (Labeo rohita) juveniles. Fish were fed with seven different diets containing bakery waste products (biscuits, cream cake, bread, and dry rusk) in combination with rice polish and wheat flour. Chromic oxide (1%) was added to the diet as an inert marker to measure nutrient digestibility. The results indicated a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the digestibility of crude protein, lipid, gross energy, and dry matter among the dietary groups. Fish fed with rice polish had the lowest apparent digestibility value of protein (16.13 {+/-} 1.86), whereas fish fed wheat flour had the highest (77.70 {+/-} 0.05). Moreover, it was shown that fish fed rusk waste had better growth. It has been concluded that bakery wastes could be used as a cheaper fish feed ingredient source for the manufacturing of cost-effective feed for L. rohita. This investigation was discussed within the context of providing cost effective ingredients for sustainable aquaculture production in Pakistan.