Effects of herbal growth promoter feed additive in fish meal on the performance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus (L.))

Abstract

The effect of dietary herbal powder (superliv ®) on growth and body composition was investigated in Oreochromis niloticus. Fingerlings of about 5.24 ± 0.60 g were fed diets supplemented with four concentrations (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 g kg −1) of herbal powder for eight weeks. Survival, specific growth rate, feed efficiency, proximate composition and haematological parameters were higher in fish given herbal diets than fish given the control diet without herbs. The highest specific growth rate (1.33 ± 0.03 % day-1) and best food conversion ratio (0.85 ± 0.03) were obtained in the 10 g kg −1 herb meal diet treatment. Protein efficiency ratio and feed efficiency were higher in fish fed with herbs and lowest in the control. No differences occurred in fish carcass protein or ash content among the treatments (p > 0.05). These results reveal that medicinal herbs in diets enhance growth, feed utilisation and survival of O. niloticus fingerlings.