Effects of different dietary carbohydrate sources on growth performance and liver histology of nile tilapia (oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings

Abstract

Background: Carbohydrates are the cheapest source of energy available in plentiful quantities at low prices and have a protein-sparing effect in some lower protein diets and for bind other ingredients. Aim of the Study: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different dietary sources and levels of wheat bran, corn and sorghum on the growth performance, feed utilization, blood parameters, body composition and histopathological examination of fingerlings Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Materials and Methods: Eighteen full glass aquaria measuring (75×40×35cm) were distributed into six treatments and each treatment was represented in three replicates (25 fish in each aquarium with an initial body weight of 9.2±0.37g). Six diets were formulated by using three different sources of carbohydrate (wheat bran, corn and sorghum) and each source was incorporated as two levels (15 and 30%) of the diet. Fish samples of (blood, histological examination of liver and spleen and proximate composition of fish) were detected. Results: The results demonstrated that the growth performance and nutrient utilization were increased with dietary sorghum starch in the two levels of sorghum. No significance differences (P>0.01) were obtained in blood parameters values and whole-body composition of fish. The histopathological examinations showed that sorghum supplemented with low dose improve liver and spleen structures. Conclusion: The appropriate dietary sorghum can incorporate up to 30% in feed formulation, without compromising effects on growth parameters, proximate composition and liver structure of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. EJH