Effect of fresh or dried garlic as a natural feed supplement on growth performance and nutrients utilization of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticas

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effect of three different natural growth promoters as feed additives on growth performance of monosex Nile tilapia fingerlings. Three nutritional treatments were applied at two additive levels (0.15 & 0.3 %) of Paprika (Hot Red Pepper "Capsicum annuum" meal), Proplis (Bee Glue) and Humapol-FIS Substance (Humic & Fulvic acids with Mixture of Minerals) each one in addition to Control diet. The tested treatments were conducted in two cement ponds (8×4×1 m), divided with nets to 16 equal aquatic compartments (2×2×1 m); 14 of them were used and stocked randomly with 20 fish/each one with an average initial body weight of 23.62 ± 0.13 g. The experiment lasted for 20 weeks (Six feeding days/week with the feeding rate at 3% of live body weight/day). The results at the end of the experiment showed that, growth performance and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P< 0.05) improved for monosex tilapia fingerlings fed on diets with the aforementioned natural feed additives compared to fish fed on the control diet. Feed cost required to produce 1kg weight gain compared to fish fed on the control diet was reduced by using the feed additives. These results revealed that using Proplis (P) at a dietary additive level of 0.3 % was the best treatment in terms of growth performance and feed utilization, while the highest revenue and the best economic evaluation were obtained from the Paprika (K) diet at a level of 0.3 % compared to the control diet.

he study aimed to investigate the effect of replacing soybean meal (SBM) protein by treated Jojoba seed meal (JSM) in diets of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) on growth performance, nutrient utilization, carcass traits, body chemical composition and digestibility of nutrients of Nile tilapia, reared under semi-intensive conditions in fiber glass tanks. The experimental tanks (1m x 2m x 0.5m) each contains one m 3 water volume, were used in this study. The three tanks represented three dietary treatments, the first tank served as a control, where the experimental fish were fed on the control diet containing soybean meal (SBM) as a source of plant protein with fish meal as a source of animal protein. Fish of the second and third tanks were fed on diets containing the Jojoba seed meal (JSM) to replace 25 and 50% of SBM protein, respectively. The experimental tanks were stocked with Nile tilapia fingerlings at a density of 50 individuals in each tank. The experimental period lasted 18 weeks after start. The initial weight of the experimental fish ranged between 7.20 ± 0.09 g and 7.5 ± 0.08 g and they were allotted randomly into the experimental tanks. The experimental rations contained 30% crude protein and 4500 kcal gross energy/ kg diet and the experimental diets were formulated to be almost isonitrogenous isocaloric. The experimental diets were fed at a rate of 3% of tank fish biomass 6 days a week, in two portions, at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The results of this study revealed that, the highest (P<0.05) final weights, specific growth rate, protein and nutrient utilization were recorded by JSM 25% group followed by the control group and the JSM 50% groups, respectively. The same trend was observed in apparent digestibility coefficients. Therefore, these results suggest that up to 25% of soybean meal can be replaced by treaded Jojoba seed meal protein in Nile tilapia diets without any adverse effect on growth performance, feed and protein utilization, body composition and digestibility of nutrients.

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