Effect of Garlic Powder on Enhancing Growth Performance and Health Status of Hybrid Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × E. lanceolatus) Fingerlings During the Nursery Phase

Zidan, Abdelnaem Fathy Abdelnaem; Suloma, Ashraf; ABDUL HAMID, NOOR KHALIDAH BINTI

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2025.437485.6903

Effect of Garlic Powder on Enhancing Growth Performance and Health Status of Hybrid Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × E. lanceolatus) Fingerlings During the Nursery Phase

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University

² Cairo university- faculty of agriculture

³ SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Main Campus UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA (USM)

10.21608/ejabf.2025.437485.6903

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of dietary garlic powder on growth performance and health status in hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × E. lanceolatus) fingerlings during the nursery phase over nine weeks. Five isonitrogenous, isolipidic diets (45% protein, 12% lipid) were prepared: Control (0%), 1.5%, 3%, 4.5%, and 6% garlic. Four hundred fish (initial weight 14.31 ± 0.08 g) were distributed into 20 tanks (1000 L; 20 fish/tank; four replicates). Fish were fed twice daily to satiation, six days a week. No significant differences were observed among the groups for growth performance and the feed efficiency parameters evaluated. Nevertheless, the 3% garlic-supplemented group exhibited numerically better feed conversion ratios (1.31), protein efficiency ratios (1.70), protein productive value (103.92), and specific growth rates (2.32) compared to other treatments. Histological analysis revealed enhanced intestinal morphology at 3% garlic inclusion, whereas higher levels of garlic (4.5% and 6%) reduced villi dimensions and mucosal thickness. The digestive enzyme analysis revealed significantly higher intestinal amylase activity levels in the control group compared to the 3% and 6% garlic-supplemented groups, whereas lipase activity declined with increasing garlic inclusion. In conclusion, the addition of 3% garlic powder improved growth and intestinal structure in hybrid grouper fingerlings without adversely affecting digestive enzyme activity, supporting its moderate use in nursery-stage diets.

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