Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Animal Production, Agricultural and Biology Institute. National Research Centre, 33 El-Bohouth Street, P.O:12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
2
Department of Animal Production, Agricultural and Biology Institute. National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt.
3
33 st Tahrir
4
1Animal Production Department, National Research Centre, 33 El-Bohouth Street, P.O: 12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
5
Cell Biology Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
6
: Hydrobiology Department, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, 33 El-Bohouth Street, P.O:12622, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt and Cell biology
7
Packaging Materials Department, National Research Centre, 33 El Bohouth St. (former El Tahrir St.), Dokki, Giza, P.O. 12622, Egypt
8
Department of Animal Production, Agricultural and Biology Institute. National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt
10.21608/ejabf.2025.429511.6716
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of dietary nano-curcumin supplementation on growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, and nutrient retention in the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Four experimental diets were formulated with nano-curcumin at 0, 50, 100, and 150mg/ kg (D1–D4, respectively). A total of 120 fingerlings (initial mean weight: 25.18 ± 0.49g) were acclimated and randomly distributed into 12 aquaria (10 fish each). All diets were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous. Growth parameters, including final weight, total body weight gain, average daily gain, specific growth rate, relative growth rate, feed intake, crude protein intake, and protein efficiency ratio, were significantly improved (P<0.05) in fish receiving nano-curcumin-supplemented diets compared with the control. Feed conversion ratio was also significantly enhanced. Body composition was markedly influenced by nano-curcumin supplementation. Fish fed supplemented diets showed increased dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein contents, while moisture, ether extract, and gross energy decreased significantly (P<0.05). In addition, energy retention (ER%) and protein productive value (PPV%) increased progressively with dietary nano-curcumin levels were recorded at 29.70, 36.39, 52.83 and 75.27%, meanwhile, the corresponding values of PPV% were recorded at 50.07, 75.42, 114.27 and 151.10% for G1, G2, G3 and G4, respectively. In conclusion, incorporation of Nano-curcumin at different dietary levels improved growth performance, feed utilization efficiency, nutrient retention, and economic profitability in the Nile tilapia fingerlings. These findings highlight the potential of nano-curcumin as a promising feed additive for sustainable aquaculture production.
Keywords
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