ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants play an important role in aquaculture as feed additives. This study aimed to investigate effects of alcoholic extract of acorn on growth performance, body composition, digestive enzymes activity and blood biochemical parameters of rainbow trout (O. mykiss) as a commercially important fish. Five dietary treatments were supplemented: 100, 200, 400 and 600 mg.kg-1 of the extract. Fishes were fed twice per day for 8 weeks, and results showed that acorn extract positively affected all investigated parameters in rainbow trout fishes. Digestive enzymes activity and growth performance were increased, while activity of liver enzymes and cortisol were lowed in comparison to control individuals. Body composition of treated animals was also enhanced. Comparison between treated groups together with integrative biomarker response (IBR) values indicated greatest effects in animals fed with 400 and 600 mg.kg-1 of the extract. Positive effects of the acorn represent promising start point for further studies.
Subject(s)
Oncorhynchus mykiss/growth & development , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Quercus/chemistry , Animal Feed , Animals , Aquaculture/methods , Body Composition/drug effects , Diet , Dietary Supplements , Liver/enzymology , Oncorhynchus mykiss/bloodABSTRACT
The present study was conducted to assess the effects of combined and singular dietary administration of PrimaLac® and potassium diformate (KDF) on growth performance, feed utilization, digestive enzymes activity, and some physiological parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juvenile. Three hundred sixty rainbow trout juveniles (25 ± 1.8 g) were randomly stocked in 300-L tanks (30 fish/tank), and fed three times daily on a basal diet (control), diets incorporated with 12 g kg-1 KDF (FT1), 1.5 g kg-1 PrimaLac® (FT2), and combination of 1.5 g kg-1 probiotic and 12 g kg-1 KDF (FT3) in triplicates, for 8 weeks. At the end of feeding trial, growth performance, body composition, digestive enzymes, liver enzymes, and biochemical parameters were measured. Our results revealed that combined administration of PrimaLac® and KDF (FT3) exhibited significantly higher weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) compared to other groups (P < 0.05). Glucose and cortisol levels showed no significant differences between fish fed different test diets (P > 0.05). The highest lipase, protease and amylase activity were observed in group of fish fed FT3 followed by FT2 and FT1. Besides, the diets FT2 and FT3 led to significantly lower of ALP, ALT, and AST compared to control group. The present results indicated that combined administration of PrimaLac® and KDF can be considered as a beneficial feed additive and growth promotor for O. mykiss juvenile.
