Growth Performance of Labeo rohita Fingerlings Fed with Probiotic Added Plant By-Products Based Feeds

Sadaf Aman1, Fouzia Tabssum2, Ali Hussain3, Shamsa Jabeen1 and Javed Iqbal Qazi1*

1Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan

2Department of Zoology, University of Education, Bank-Road Campus, Lahore, Pakistan

3Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

The current study was carried out to investigate growth performance of Labeo rohita fingerlings fed with Lactobacillus rhamnosus supplemented plant by products based feeds. The study comprised of two experimental and one control groups. In treatment 1 (T1), fish were fed with soybean meal along with L. rhamnosus. In treatment 2 (T2), fish were fed with sunflower meal along with L. rhamnosus. The control group was served with commercial feed. Initial mean weights of the experimental fish was recorded as 40.00 ± 1.00, 40.33 ± 0.76 and 40.01 ± 1.00 g for T1, T2 and control groups, respectively. The highest weight gain was found in T1 (747.96 ± 1.9 g) and control group (479.35 ± 1.8 g). Significant differences were found in the feed conversion ratio between control group (2.02 ± 0.07), T1 (1.48 ± 0.03) and T2 (1.47 ± 0.02). Survival remained 100% in all the treatments. Water quality parameters differed insignificantly for different treatment groups and remained in favorable range throughout the study period. All the treatments showed lower values of fat contents and higher values of crude protein. No negative change was observed in the histological parameters of the liver and intestinal tissues for the fishes fed with plant based feeds added with probiotics. Conclusively, fish production can be enhanced with the addition of probiotics in the feed derived from plants.

Article Information

Received 24 February 2022

Revised 25 April 2022

Accepted 11 May 2022

Available online 30 August 2022

(early access)

Published 25 February 2023

Authors’ Contribution

SA performed all experiments. FT worked on collecting and arranging data. AH drafted manuscript. SJ helped in statistical analysis and compilation of data. JIQ supervised the work.

Key words

Economical aquaculture, Feed formulation, Fish feed, Microbial biotechnology, Probiotics

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20220224060200

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

0030-9923/2023/0003-1059 $ 9.00/0

Copyright 2023 by the authors. Licensee Zoological Society of Pakistan.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

INTRODUCTION

Aquaculture sector is facing difficulty in development due to expensive feed stuff which is vital to increase the fish production. Feed cost in aquaculture industry represents over 50% of the total cost which in turn depends on different factors like source, kind of ingredients, crude protein level and formulation practices which affect the lipid profile, vitamins and mineral content of fish produced and ultimately the consumer demand (Prabu et al., 2017). Cost-effective feed ingredients which are easily available on demand from market and well suited for fish types to be cultured can play vital role in the development of aquaculture sector (Iqbal et al., 2015; Mishra et al., 2022).

Suitable plants-based by-products can replace expensive animal-based feed ingredients without compromising the growth, enzymatic efficiency, survival rate of fish and its resistance against various infectious diseases (Fraga-Corral et al., 2022). Probiotics as biotherapeutic agents have been used to promote health benefits since long. Reported health benefits associated with daily consumption of probiotics include their anticancer, antioxidant, hypoglycaemic, immunomodulatory potential amelioration of arthritis and cholesterol reduction (El-Kady et al., 2022; Thatcher et al., 2022; Tran et al., 2022).

Probiotics can reduce the cost and can easily improve the growth and feed conversion efficiency of fish (Swain et al., 1996; Bogut et al., 1998; Ghosh et al., 2003; Carnevali et al., 2006; Yanbo and Zirong, 2006; Mazurkiewicz et al., 2007; Kesarcodi-Watson et al., 2008). Many probiotics are being used in aquaculture but lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the most prominent one as they build natural intestinal microflora of a healthy fish (Noh et al., 1994; Brunt and Austin, 2005; Nayak et al., 2007; Wang, 2007, 2011; Yin et al., 2007; Ramakrishnan et al., 2008). Keeping in view the health benefits and productive utility of probiotics in aquaculture, the current study was planned to explore benefits of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (NR-113332.1) supplementation in plant based feeds on growth, feed conversion ration and intestinal health of Labeo rohita fingerlings. The findings of this study will be helpful for replacing the commercial expensive feed with the experimentally validated feed with higher yields.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental design

The fish fingerlings for the experimental trial were obtained from Fisheries Research Institute, Manava, Lahore and the experimental trial was carried out in Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore. The fishes were divided into two different treatment groups on the basis of feeding with and without different diets made from different kinds of plant based ingredients with the addition of probiotic (L. rhamnosus) in soybean and sunflower based feeds. Control group was fed with commercial feed. One hundred and eighty fish individuals were stocked in 9 aquaria (60.96 × 55.88 × 40.64 cm). Twenty fishes (weighing between 25 to 40 g) were stocked in each group. Before stocking, the fish were treated with KMnO4. In treatment group 1 (T1), fish were fed with soybean meal along with L. rhamnosus (NR-113332.1). In treatment group 2 (T2), fish were fed with sunflower meal along with L. rhamnosus. The control group was served with commercial feed. All the fish were carefully weighed during the trial to verify the result of feed on growth. Feed was readjusted after every fortnight sampling.

Feed formulation

Plant based feeds; soybean meal and sunflower meal having 30% CP level with the addition of probiotics L. rhamnosus (NR-113332.1) were used (Table I). The control group was fed with commercial feed. The fish were fed for three months at rate of 3% fish wet body weight twice a day.

Feeding procedure

Fish were fed twice a day (morning and afternoon) at the rate of 3% of body weight of fish. Fish feed quantity was recalculated after fortnight sampling.

Growth study

Before stocking the fish, initial weight and length were measured. At the end of the experimental trial, final gain in weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), percentage weight gain, net gain in weight and specific growth rate (SGR) were calculated.

 

Table I. Percentage ingredient contribution of different plant based experimental feeds.

Ingredients	Control group (Commercial feed)	Treatment 1 (Soybean based feed + L. rhamnosus)	Treatment 2 (Sunflower based feed + L. rhamnosus)
Fish meal	25	12	12
Sunflower meal	--	-	60
Soybean meal		56	-
Rice polish	30	12	8
Wheat flour	30	10	10
Fish oil	5	3	3
Vitamin premix	2	1	1
Minerals	2	1	1
Ascorbic acid	2	1	1
Chromic oxide	2	1	1
Citric acid	2	3	3
L. rhamnosus	-	3 × 108 C.F.U/g of feed	3 × 108 C.F.U/g of feed
Total	100	100	100

 

The mixed feed ingredients were formulated in pelleted form to a particulate size of 2mm by a pelleting machine. The air-dry product was packed in opaque and well-sealed plastic zipper packets till further use.

Histological analysis

The fish were dissected to get liver and gut (intestine). Both these samples were preserved in 4% formalin. Histology was carried out to determine the effects of probiotic on liver and intestine of fish. The tissues were routinely dehydrated through different ethanol grades, absolute ethanol and xylene. The tissue sections were prepared following Qin et al. (2018). The wax embedded tissues’ sections (8 µm) were cut with the help of a microtome. The sections were subsequently stained with hematoxylin and eosin and studied microscopically. Photomicrographs of the representative sections were taken with the help of a camera fitted microscope.

Periodic physicochemical analysis

Dissolved oxygen, temperature and pH were recorded on daily basis by using multi meter. Nitrates and phosphates were recorded using HANNA Nitrate Test Kit HI3874.

Statistical analysis

Analysis of variance ANOVA was applied on the data obtained to compare the means by using statistical software SAS 9.1.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Fish growth analysis

The highest weight gain 747.96 ± 1.9 was observed in T1, followed by T2 (657.01 ± 1.6) as compared to the control value of 479.3 ± 1.8 (Table II). Maximum gain in length was measured as 5.33 ± 0.29, 5.67 ± 0.43, 3.83 ± 0.29 for T1, T2 and control group, respectively. Statistically significant differences of length increase were observed among the control group, T1 and T2 (Table II). Our results were similar with Saghaei et al. (2015) who described the effect of garlic (Allium sativum) on Oscar fish (Astronotus ocellatus) growth performance and body compositions. They reported that highest protein content was attained in the fish fed with 10 g/kg of garlic powder. Our results were also supported by Tiamiyu et al. (2016) who reported that feeding Oreochro misniloticus with 55% substitution of Moringa oleifera meal for soybean meal presented the best growth results and nutrients utilization. Gradual decrements in the growth performance suggested that M. oleifera should be added less than 7.34%. Mohanty et al. (1996) showed feeding with addition of probiotics and yeast resulted in higher survival rate, better immunity and increase in body weight gain and nutrient utilization in thaila (Catla catla). Yanbo and Zirong (2006) reported that the survival of fish, gain in weight and nutrient utilization of fish depend on the type of probiotics used in fish feed.

 

Table II. Growth of L. rohita fed with L. rhamnosus supplemented soybean based meal and sunflower based meal.

Parameter (%)	Control	Treatment 1	Treatment 2
Initial weight (g)	40.01a ±1.00	40.00a ±1.00	40.33a ±0.76
Final weight (g)	231.67a ±1.08	339.00c ±1.07	305.00c ±0.78
%Gain in weight	479.35a ±1.8	747.96c ±1.9	657.01c ±1.6
Initial length (cm)	13.17a ±0.29	13.83c±0.28	13.33b ±0.58
Final length (cm)	17.00a ±0.01	19.17c±0.02	19.01c±0.01
Increase in length (cm)	29.16a ±1.79	38.58c±2.2	42.67c ±1.03
FCR	2.02c ±0.07	1.48a±0.03	1.47a±0.02
SGR (%)	0.64a ±0.02	0.81c ±0.01	0.75c ±0.01

 

Values represent Mean ±S.D. of triplicates. Those having different superscripts in a row are significantly different from each other P ≤ 0.05

 

Physicochemical parameters

Non-significant differences were recorded in all the treatment groups. Temperature in all the treatment groups as well as control group fluctuated between 25 to 27°C throughout the experimental period. Throughout the experiment, DO remained within favorable range from 6.5 to 7 mg/L. During the whole experimental period, pH remained neutral. Non-significant differences were also observed for the nitrates and phosphates contents of water among all the treatment groups.

Body composition of fish

At the end of the experimental trial, fish were processed for proximate analysis. Maximum crude protein (66.49 ± 0.14) was observed in T2 and was remarkably different from that of control group. Significantly higher fat contents up to 9.15 ± 0.05 were found in control group, whereas the respective values for T1 and T2 were 6.23 ± 0.15 and 6.67 ± 0.12. Ash contents were appeared as 23.40 ± 0.06, 21.33 ± 0.21 and 21.57 ± 0.06 in control group, T1 and T2, respectively. Moisture contents were appeared as 8.74 ± 0.21, 8.66 ± 0.17 and 9.35 ± 0.09 in control group, T1 and T2, respectively. Dry matter of fish sample showed non-significant (P > 0.05) differences among all the treatment groups (Table III).

 

Table III. Whole-body composition of L. rohita fed with L. rhamnosus supplemented soybean based meal and sunflower based meal.

Parameter (%)	Control	T1	T2
CP	63.87a ± 0.40	66.22c ± 0.02	66.49c ± 0.14
Fat	9.15c ± 0.05	6.23a ± 0.15	6.67a ± 0.12
Ash	23.40c ± 0.06	21.33a ± 0.21	21.57a ± 0.06
Moisture	8.74b ± 0.21	8.66a ± 0.17	9.35b ± 0.09
Dry matter	91.26b ± 0.21	91.34b ± 0.17	90.65a ± 0.09

 

Values represent Mean ± S.D. of triplicates. Those having different superscripts in a row are significantly different from each other P≤0.05

 

Histological analysis

Normal pattern of hepatocytes was observed in the control as well both the experimental groups. Whereas, normal appearance of tunica mucosa, serosa layers and villi made the folds thicker in the probiotics supplemented fish. Intestines of the fish fed with probiotics showed relatively well-developed villi and epithelial layers (Figs. 1-3).

In control group, the intestine showed normal appearance of serosa layers and villi structure (Fig. 3). Bamidele et al. (2015) observed the liver and intestine health by replacing soybean meal (T1) 0, (T2) 25, (T3) 50, (T4) 75 and (T5) 100% with moringa meal at 40 % CP. He reported T1 group showed no visible degeneration with normal intestine and liver. T2 and T3 showed degeneration of hepatocytes in liver. T4 and T5 showed severe degeneration and intestinal necrosis which had been explained due to excessive work required by the fish liver to get rid of the plant toxicant from its body during the process of detoxification. It is well known that liver is the main organ for detoxification. No negative change in the histological parameters of the liver tissue as well as the intestinal tissue for the fishes fed with probiotic plant based feeds was observed in the present study.

 

 

 

Conclusions

Our research suggested that L. rhamnosus can be used safely for employing plant based products feeds for sustaining or even escalating growth without any harmful and damaging effect on body composition of L. rohita.

Acknowledgements

The institutional support of Fisheries Research Institute, Manava, Lahore, for providing fish fingerlings is highly acknowledged.

Statement of conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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