EFFECTS OF PROPOLIS EXTRACT SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, BODY COMPOSITION, FEED UTILIZATION AND HEAMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF NILE TILAPIA, OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS JUVENILE

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Egypt.

2 Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Minoufia, Shebin El-Kom.

Abstract

The present study was conducted to estimate the effects of propolis extract dietary supplementation on Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus juvenile performance, whole body composition, hematological, biochemical and histological indices. Four experimental diets were formulated including the control as basal diet (D1) without any supplementation, followed by three diets supplemented with propolis extract at 3, 6 and 12 g /kg diet D2, D3 and D4, respectively. Fish (3.78±0.03 g) were randomly divided into twelve (80 L) aquaria in triplicates (15 fish per replication). The obtained results showed that, fish fed diets supplemented with propolis extract at levels of 3 and 6 g kg-1 had the highest values of final body weight, weight gain percentage, specific growth rate, whole body protein and ash. Moreover, fish fed propolissupplemented diet recorded higher feed intake than the control diet. However, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in feed efficiency ratio, FER, protein efficiency ratio, PER and survival rate, SR (%) of fish fed different levels of propolis extract and control diet. Blood biochemical parameters appeared no hazard effects of dietary propolis on kidney and liver function. Heamatological indices referred to an increase (p < 0.05) in red blood cell counts and hemoglobin especially with D3 diet. Generally, no hazard histological changes were observed with propolis extract for intestine and liver sections. It may be concluded that, propolis dietary supplementation at  3 and 6 g kg-1 diet could be improve Nile tilapia juvenile’s growth, body composition and hematological parameters

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