<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Nile tilapia is known for its relative tolerance to some biotic and abiotic stressors. However, long-period water exchange may impair the health status and, thereby, the growth performance and feed utilization. In this regard, using herbal extracts may help to relieve the adverse impacts of low water quality on the productivity of this fish species. A 100-day feeding trial was designed to examine the effects of dietary supplements of <italic>Aloe vera</italic> leaves (AVE), and chamomile flowers, <italic>Matricaria chamomilla</italic> (CFE) extracts on water quality, growth performance, and well-being of Nile tilapia. Fish (3.95±0.05 g, n=1200) were distributed into five groups (15 fiberglass tanks, 2 m<sup>3</sup>) under a water exchange rate of 20% every two days for standard control (T0) without herbal supplements. Groups (T1, T2, T3, and T4) were exposed to a long water exchange period of 50% every month, wherein T1 (stressed control), T2, T3, and T4 groups were fed a diet supplemented with 0% herbal extract, 1% AVE, 1% CFE and 0.5% AVE +0.5% CFE, respectively. Results showed that feeding on a T2 diet exhibited a clear improvement under a long period of water exchange stress, and it is almost similar to their counterparts under normal conditions (T0) in terms of specific growth rate, survival rate, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio. Moreover, the lowest levels of aspartate aminotransferase were obtained with T2 and T0. In addition, the highest white blood cell count and hemoglobin values were recorded with group T0, followed by T2, and T4, while there was no significant difference between T3 and T1. Fish under stressed conditions without herbal extracts (T1) showed the lowest performance and survival rate compared to T0 and T2 groups. In conclusion, feeding diet supplied with 1% <italic>A. vera</italic> extract to stressed fish restored their performance and well-being to the level of their counterparts under normal conditions.</p>
</abstract>

Nile tilapia is known for its relative tolerance to some biotic and abiotic stressors. However, long-period water exchange may impair the health status and, thereby, the growth performance and feed utilization. In this regard, using herbal extracts may help to relieve the adverse impacts of low water quality on the productivity of this fish species. A 100-day feeding trial was designed to examine the effects of dietary supplements of Aloe vera leaves (AVE), and chamomile flowers, Matricaria chamomilla (CFE) extracts on water quality, growth performance, and well-being of Nile tilapia. Fish (3.95±0.05 g, n=1200) were distributed into five groups (15 fiberglass tanks, 2 m3) under a water exchange rate of 20% every two days for standard control (T0) without herbal supplements. Groups (T1, T2, T3, and T4) were exposed to a long water exchange period of 50% every month, wherein T1 (stressed control), T2, T3, and T4 groups were fed a diet supplemented with 0% herbal extract, 1% AVE, 1% CFE and 0.5% AVE +0.5% CFE, respectively. Results showed that feeding on a T2 diet exhibited a clear improvement under a long period of water exchange stress, and it is almost similar to their counterparts under normal conditions (T0) in terms of specific growth rate, survival rate, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio. Moreover, the lowest levels of aspartate aminotransferase were obtained with T2 and T0. In addition, the highest white blood cell count and hemoglobin values were recorded with group T0, followed by T2, and T4, while there was no significant difference between T3 and T1. Fish under stressed conditions without herbal extracts (T1) showed the lowest performance and survival rate compared to T0 and T2 groups. In conclusion, feeding diet supplied with 1% A. vera extract to stressed fish restored their performance and well-being to the level of their counterparts under normal conditions.

Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, Hematological Parameters, and Histological Features of Nile Tilapia (<italic>Oreochromis niloticus</italic>) Fed Diets with Supplementary Herbal Extracts Under Prolonged Water Exchange

Department of Aquaculture and Biotechnology, Faculty of Aquaculture and Marine Fisheries

Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Department of Nutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, Hematological Parameters, and Histological Features of Nile Tilapia () Fed Diets with Supplementary Herbal Extracts Under Prolonged Water Exchange

Nile tilapia is known for its relative tolerance to some biotic and abiotic stressors. However, long-period water exchange may impair the health status and,...

Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, Hematological Parameters, and Histological Features of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fed Diets with Supplementary Herbal Extracts Under Prolonged Water Exchange

Online veröffentlicht: 13. Nov. 2023

Seitenbereich: 1147 - 1157

Eingereicht: 09. Aug. 2022

Akzeptiert: 24. Jan. 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2023-0017

Schlüsselwörter
chamomile, well-being, feed utilization, water quality, sustainable aquaculture, stress marker

© 2023 Mohamed F.A. Abdel-Aziz et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, Hematological Parameters, and Histological Features of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fed Diets with Supplementary Herbal Extracts Under Prolonged Water Exchange

Online veröffentlicht: 13. Nov. 2023

Seitenbereich: 1147 - 1157

Eingereicht: 09. Aug. 2022

Akzeptiert: 24. Jan. 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2023-0017

Schlüsselwörterchamomile, well-being, feed utilization, water quality, sustainable aquaculture, stress marker

© 2023 Mohamed F.A. Abdel-Aziz et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Schlüsselwörter
chamomile, well-being, feed utilization, water quality, sustainable aquaculture, stress marker