吉富罗非鱼对饲料中苯丙氨酸的需要量

分别用含6种水平(质量比分别为0.78%、0.95%、1.09%、1.34%、1.51%和1.72%)苯丙氨酸(phenylalanine,Phe)的等氮等能(粗蛋白30.10%,总能17.73 MJ/kg)饲料,在池塘网箱中(实验期间水温为24~32℃)饲喂初始体重为(52.70±1.80)g的吉富罗非鱼60 d,考察饲料Phe对吉富罗非鱼(GIFT,Oreochromis niloticus)生长性能、饲料系数、体成分、部分血清生化指标及前肠消化酶活性的影响,以期获得吉富罗非鱼对饲料苯丙氨酸的需要量。结果表明,随着饲料中Phe水平的升高,吉富罗非鱼的增重率、特定生长率、蛋白质效率、蛋白质沉积率、肥满度、肝体比和脏体比均呈现先上升后下降的趋势,饲料系数呈现先下降后上升的趋势;全鱼粗脂肪和全鱼灰分含量显著上升(P0.05),肌肉灰分含量显著下降(P0.05)。饲料中Phe对全鱼水分和粗蛋白质、肌肉水分、肌肉粗蛋白质和肌肉粗脂肪含量无显著性影响(P0.05);各实验组的肌肉氨基酸含量差异不显著(P0.05)。饲料中Phe显著影响血清中谷丙转氨酶活性,甘油三酯、总胆固醇和葡萄糖的含量(P0.05),对谷草转氨酶活性无显著性影响(P0.05);Phe显著影响肠蛋白酶、肠脂肪酶和肠Na~+-K~+-ATP酶活性(P0.05),而对肠淀粉酶活性影响不显著(P0.05)。以增重率、饲料系数和蛋白质效率为评价指标,通过二次回归分析可知,吉富罗非鱼对饲料中Phe需要量为1.17%~1.21%,占饲料蛋白质的3.89%~4.02%。本研究结果为合理配制吉富罗非鱼配合饲料提供了理论依据。     

吉富罗非鱼对饲料中泛酸的需要量

选用初始体质量为(79.4±1.6)g吉富罗非鱼270尾,随机分成6组(每组3重复,每重复15尾),养殖于500 L养殖桶中,分别饲喂泛酸含量为0.5、4.8、9.5、18.2、36.3和74.4 mg/kg纯化饲料12周,研究确定其对泛酸的需要量。结果表明,随着饲料泛酸含量增加,吉富罗非鱼增重率、肝脏和肌肉泛酸含量均呈先线性增加后稳定的趋势;肥满度和肝体比呈先增加后降低的趋势,均以4.8 mg/kg组最高。全鱼水分含量先降低后增加,全鱼脂肪含量呈现与水分含量相反的趋势。肝总脂含量显著降低,添加组显著低于未添加组(P0.05)。血清高密度脂蛋白含量随着饲料泛酸含量的增加而显著增加(P0.05)。折线回归分析结果表明,吉富罗非鱼(80~350 g)获得最佳生长时对饲料泛酸需要量为10.5 mg/kg,饲料中12.6和13.5mg/kg泛酸可以分别使肝脏和肌肉泛酸累积量达到最大。     

吉富罗非鱼成鱼对饲料中有效磷的需要量

为获得吉富罗非鱼成鱼对饲料中有效磷的需要量,以磷酸二氢钾(KH₂PO₄)为磷源,配制含有效磷水平分别为0.15％(对照组)、0.40%、0.66%、0.91%、1.17%和1.43%的6组等氮等能的半纯化饲料,每组饲料饲喂3个重复,每个重复饲养20尾初始体质量为(184.46±8.13)g吉富罗非鱼,经过9周的饲养后,对生长性能、饲料效率、成活率、全鱼基本营养成分、脊椎骨及鳞片的磷含量进行测定。结果显示,饲料有效磷为0.66％或0.91%时,鱼体增重率和特定生长率较其它各组均显著提高(P<0.05),饲料效率显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。随着饲料有效磷含量的增加,实验鱼体的脏体指数、肝体指数和肥满度均显著降低(P<0.05),成活率无显著性变化(P＞0.05);全鱼粗蛋白、粗灰分及磷含量均显著提高(P<0.05),粗脂肪含量显著下降(P<0.05);脊椎骨和鳞片的粗灰分和磷含量均显著提高(P<0.05)。用抛物线模型拟合特定生长率与饲料有效磷含量,罗非鱼获得最大生长时,对饲料中有效磷需要量为0.85%;分别对全鱼磷含量、鳞片磷含量和脊椎骨灰分含量与饲料有效磷含量进行相关回归分析,罗非鱼对饲料中有效磷需要量分别为0.88%、1.14%、1.23%。     

吉富罗非鱼对饲料中锌的需要量

为考察吉富罗非鱼(GIFT,Oreochromis niloticus)对饲料中锌的需要量,以蛋氨酸锌为锌源,配制锌添加水平分别为0,10,20,40,80,160 mg/kg的6组等氮等脂饲料(实测值分别为9.98,21.47,33.75,56.03,88.16,172.54 mg/kg),饲喂初始体质量为(84.44±3.04)g的吉富罗非鱼,试验鱼分为6组,每组3个重复,每个重复20尾鱼,养殖周期为10周。结果显示,随着饲料中锌含量的增加,吉富罗非鱼的增重率、特定生长率先显著升高,在锌含量达到33.75 mg/kg后趋于稳定,添加锌显著降低了饲料系数,提高了成活率。饲料锌含量对全鱼水分、粗蛋白及灰分含量无显著影响,显著降低了全鱼粗脂肪含量。饲料中添加锌对血清总胆固醇含量无影响,显著提高了血清碱性磷酸酶的活性,碱性磷酸酶活性在锌含量达到33.75 mg/kg后趋于稳定,血清甘油三酯含量,乳酸脱氢酶、谷草转氨酶和谷丙转氨酶活性则呈下降趋势。饲料锌含量显著影响脊椎骨、全鱼和肝脏锌的含量,脊椎骨和全鱼锌含量先线性上升,在锌含量达到56.03 mg/kg后趋于稳定,各组的肌肉锌含量无显著差异。以增重率、骨骼锌和全鱼锌含量为评价指标,根据折线回归分析得出,以蛋氨酸锌为添加锌源,吉富罗非鱼对饲料中锌的需要量分别为32.37、55.67和56.13 mg/kg。     

吉富罗非鱼对饲料中维生素B1的需要量

采用维生素B1(VB1)含量为0.08(对照组)、0.57、1.13、2.09、4.11和8.09 mg/kg的6种纯化饲料,分别饲养初始体质量为(64.4±1.5)g的吉富罗非鱼12周,研究VB1对其生长性能、部分血清生化指标、肝脏VB1蓄积量及转酮醇酶基因表达量的影响,以确定其对饲料VB1的需要量.结果显示,随着饲料中VB1含量增加,吉富罗非鱼增重率先呈线性增加后趋于稳定,当饲料中VB1含量为1.13、2.09、4.11、8.09 mg/kg时增重率达最大.吉富罗非鱼肝脏VB1含量随着饲料VB1含量增加不断增大,当增加到2.09 mg/kg后趋于稳定.饲料中缺乏VB1显著提高血清丙酮酸含量(P＜0.05),但对全鱼水分、粗脂肪、粗蛋白、灰分无显著性影响(P＞0.05).饲料中添加VB1显著提高血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇和肝脏转酮醇酶基因表达量(P＜0.05).饲料中VB1含量大于1.13 mg/kg各组的肝脏转酮醇酶活性显著高于VB1含量小于0.57 mg/kg组(P＜0.05).折线回归分析表明,吉富罗非鱼(64 ～325 g)获得最佳生长时对饲料VB1需要量为1.16 mg/kg;肝脏VB1蓄积量达到最大时,对VB1的需要量为2.06mg/kg.     

吉富罗非鱼成鱼胆碱的最适需要量

选用初始体质量为(220.00±8.34) g的吉富罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)360尾, 随机分成6组,每组3重复(每重复20尾), 于1 m×1 m×1.5 m池塘网箱中饲养。分别饲喂胆碱含量为97.80(对照组)、375.04、565.74、974.27、      1 409.81、1 824.35 mg/kg的半纯化饲料10周, 研究胆碱对吉富罗非鱼成鱼生长、饲料利用、鱼体营养组成、胆碱蓄积量及部分血液生化指标的影响。结果显示, 经过10周的饲喂, 饲料中添加胆碱可显著提高鱼体增重率、特定生长率和饲料效率(P<0.05); 降低肝脂肪含量(P<0.05), 提高肌肉脂肪含量(P<0.05); 显著升高肝胆碱蓄积量(P<0.05); 胆碱添加组血清甘油三酯(TG)和总胆固醇(T-CHO)显著高于对照组(P<0.05), 并随饲料胆碱含量增加呈现升高的趋势; 肝甘油三酯(TG)和总胆固醇(T-CHO)随着胆碱含量的增加而显著降低(P<0.05); 血清谷草转氨酶(ALT)、谷丙转氨酶(AST)和碱性磷酸酶(ALP)均随着饲料胆碱含量的增大而显著降低(P<0.05)。结果表明, 饲料中添加适量的胆碱可以改善吉富罗非鱼成鱼的生长性能, 提高饲料利用效率, 降低肝脂肪含量, 促进肝脂肪转运; 对特定生长率进行回归分析, 得出吉富罗非鱼成鱼对饲料中胆碱的最低需要量为506.43 mg/kg, 而对肝胆碱蓄积量回归分析得出的需要量为981.38 mg/kg。

     

饲料中有效磷对吉富罗非鱼生长、体组成及生化指标的影响

为探讨饲料中不同有效磷水平对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼生长、体组成及生化指标的影响,以磷酸二氢钙(MCP)为磷源,配制含有效磷(AP)水平分别为0.52%(对照组)、0.61%、0.70%、0.78%、0.87%、0.96%和1.05%的7种等氮等能实用饲料,饲喂初始均重为(29.40±0.15)g的实验鱼。每种饲料设置3个重复,每个重复放25尾鱼,进行56 d的养殖实验。结果表明:饲料AP水平对罗非鱼的增重率(WGR)、特定生长率(SGR)、饲料系数(FCR)和脏体比(VSI)均有显著影响(P<0.05)。以WGR为评价指标,通过二次回归分析得出,罗非鱼饲料的适宜AP水平为0.80%。随饲料AP水平的增加,罗非鱼全鱼总磷和灰分含量显著增加并达到稳定(P<0.05),而全鱼水分含量差异不显著(P>0.05),全鱼和肠系膜、肝脏组织脂肪含量均显著下降(P<0.05)。用折线模型分析全鱼磷和灰分含量,得出罗非鱼幼鱼对饲料AP的需求量分别为0.81%和0.80%。随饲料AP水平的增加,肝脏苹果酸脱氢酶(MDH)、丙酮酸激酶(PK)、脂蛋白脂酶(LPL)和肝酯酶(HL)活性均显著增加(P<0.05)。血清谷丙转氨酶(GPT)活性显著下降(P<0.05),而碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性显著上升(P<0.05),血清超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性呈先升后降趋势,在0.78%水平组达到最大值,而肝脏丙二醛(MDA)含量正好相反,在0.78%水平组最低。综上所述,研究结果表明:吉富罗非鱼(30~150 g)实用饲料的最适有效磷水平为0.80%。     

济利罗非鱼必需脂肪酸的需要量

用几种含脂类的饵料以及w6、w3脂肪酸含量不同的饵料测定济利罗非鱼的必需脂肪酸(EFA)的需要量。在以12：O为基础脂类成份的饵料中添加18：2w6、20：4w6、18：3w3及20：5w3脂肪酸使得济利罗非鱼的体重增加，而且，18：2w6和20l4w6的生长效果比18：3w3和20：5w3好。实验数据表明，济利罗非鱼对w6脂肪酸的需要甚于w3脂肪酸。济利罗非鱼对18：2w6或20：4w6的需要量大约是饲料量的1．0％。     

饲料中添加蚕豆对吉富罗非鱼生长性能的影响

为了解饲料中添加蚕豆对吉富罗非鱼生长性能的影响,共设置2个试验组（ND和VFSD70组）,ND组投喂正常罗非鱼饲料,VFSD70组投喂含70%蚕豆添加量的饲料;采用质构测试,开展对吉富罗非鱼肌肉品质的影响试验,为期60 d。结果表明,在吉富罗非鱼成长初期,投喂70%蚕豆添加量的饲料,对吉富罗非鱼生长性能与成活率均无影响,且从15 d起,对其肌肉品质产生影响,使其硬度增加,弹性降低。     

34 ℃水温下吉富罗非鱼对饲料脂肪的需求量

为研究34 ℃水温下吉富罗非鱼对饲料脂肪的需求量,选用初始体质量为(50.88±1.57) g的吉富罗非鱼360尾,随机分成6组(每组设3个重复,每重复20尾),饲喂脂肪含量分别为0.22%(对照组)、2.83%、4.98%、7.45%、9.23%和12.47%的6种纯化饲料,在34 ℃水温下饲养56 d后,测定并分析了吉富罗非鱼的生长性能、体成分、部分血清生化和肝脏脂肪代谢酶活性等指标。结果显示,随饲料脂肪水平升高,吉富罗非鱼增重率、特定生长率、蛋白质效率与蛋白质保留率均呈现先上升后下降的趋势,饲料系数和摄食率呈现相反的趋势;12.47%实验组肝体比显著高于其他实验组,其他指标组间无显著性差异。饲料脂肪水平对吉富罗非鱼的成活率无显著影响。对照组全鱼粗脂肪含量显著低于其他实验组;当饲料脂肪含量为7.45%~12.47%时,肌肉粗脂肪含量显著高于对照组;肝脏粗脂肪含量在饲料脂肪含量为2.83%~9.23%时较对照组显著降低。血清甘油三酯和总胆固醇随饲料脂肪水平升高呈现先下降后上升的趋势;肝脏脂肪酶和脂蛋白酯酶活性随脂肪水平的增加呈上升趋势,在12.47%组达到最大值;肝脂酶的活性呈先上升再下降最后趋于稳定的趋势,在脂肪水平为2.83%时最高, 显著高于其他各组。经回归分析,在34 ℃水温下,吉富罗非鱼要获得最佳的增重率、蛋白质效率和最低饲料系数对饲料脂肪的需求量分别为4.92%、5.67%和6.49%。     

尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼饲料的适宜脂肪需要

选用初始体质量为(46.14±4.67)g的尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis nilotica)360尾,随机分成6组(每组4重复,每重复15尾),分别饲喂添加鱼油水平为0%(对照组)、3%、6%、9%、12%和15%的纯化饲料(实测脂肪水平为0.20%、2.70%、6.11%、8.04%、11.13%和14.85%)。饲养8周后,以尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼的生长、体组成、血清生化及脂肪代谢酶活性等指标为判断依据,确定其饲料的脂肪需要量。结果表明,随饲料脂肪水平的升高,尼罗罗非鱼的增重率、特定生长率以及蛋白质效率均呈现先上升后下降的趋势,饲料系数呈现先下降后上升的趋势。饲料脂肪水平的升高使尼罗罗非鱼肝体比及全鱼和肌肉的脂肪含量显著增加(P<0.05)。随饲料脂肪水平的升高,尼罗罗非鱼血清总胆固醇和甘油三酯含量呈先上升后下降的趋势,各实验组显著高于对照组(P<0.05);血清高密度脂蛋白含量呈先上升后稳定的趋势;血清谷丙转氨酶和谷草转氨酶活性均在饲料脂肪水平为6.11%时最小,在14.85%时达到最大。随饲料脂肪水平的升高,尼罗罗非鱼脂蛋白酯酶、肝脂酶和肠道脂肪酶活性均呈先升高后下降的趋势,脂肪酸合成酶活性显著下降(P<0.05)。对增重率、蛋白质效率、饲料系数和血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇进行回归分析得出,尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼饲料最适脂肪水平分别为8.86%,9.75%,9.40%和8.30%,因此确定尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼饲料适宜的脂肪需要量为8.30%～9.75%。     

Effect of dietary conjugated linoleic acid levels on growth performance,muscle fatty acid profile,hepatic intermediary metabolism and antioxidant responses in genetically improved farmed Tilapia strain of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on growth performance, muscle fatty acid profile, hepatic intermediary metabolism and antioxidant responses in genetically improved farmed Tilapia (GIFT) strain of Oreochromis niloticus (initial body weight: 42.6 ± 0.4 g, mean ± standard deviation). Three replicated groups of GIFT strain of Nile tilapia were hand‐fed to satiation, twice a day, with the diets in which CLA oil, containing mainly the bioactive cis‐9, trans‐11 and trans‐10, cis‐12 isomers, was included at 0 (control), 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% and 2.5%, respectively, at the expense of fish oil to maintain the constant lipid and energy levels. Growth performance and feed utilization showed no significant differences among the treatments (P > 0.05). The dietary inclusion of CLA modified total percentages of the main groups of fatty acids. Increasing saturated fatty acid content and reduced mono‐unsaturated fatty acid contents in muscle were observed with increasing dietary CLA inclusion (P < 0.05). Total n‐3 fatty acids and total polyunsaturated fatty acids tended to decline with increasing dietary CLA levels (P < 0.05), but n‐6 fatty acids showed no significant differences among the treatments (P > 0.05). Dietary CLA supplementation resulted in the significant increase in the trans‐10, cis‐12 and cis‐9, trans‐11 CLA isomers in muscle (P < 0.05) and also significantly influenced several hepatic enzymatic activities, such as succinate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase, lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase activities (P < 0.05). Reduced superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and the decline in malondialdehyde levels were observed in fish fed the CLA‐supplemented diets (P < 0.05), indicating that dietary CLA supplementation showed a powerful antioxidant effect for this fish species. Our study was the first report involved in the effect of dietary CLA inclusion on hepatic intermediary metabolism and antioxidant responses in fish, which could be used as indicators of nutritional and physiological status of the fish species.     

Dietary phosphorus requirement of GIFT strain of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus reared in freshwater

A study was conducted to estimate the optimum requirement of dietary available phosphorus for GIFT strain of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Six purified diets were formulated to contain graded levels (0 (control diet), 2.9, 4.8, 7.6, 9.1 and 10.9 g kg^?1 diet) of available phosphorus. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of 12 fish with initial average weight (46.03 ± 2.14) g for 8 weeks. The results showed that fish fed the three lowest phosphorus diets (0, 2.9 and 4.8 g kg^?1) had significantly lower weight gain rate, specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiency than those fed the other diets (P < 0.05). The survival rate of fish fed the control diet was significantly lower than that of the fish fed the other diets (P < 0.05). Whole body viscerosomatic index and crude lipid content decreased significantly with increasing dietary available phosphorus levels (P < 0.05), while the contents of crude ash, calcium, phosphorus in the whole body and vertebrae showed the opposite trend (P < 0.05). The blood chemistry analysis showed that dietary available phosphorus had significant effects on serum phosphorus concentration, enzyme activities of alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone level. Quadratic curve analysis based on SGR indicated that the minimum dietary requirement of available phosphorus for maintaining optimal growth of tilapia was 8.6 g kg^?1.     

壳寡糖对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼生长性能、前肠组织结构及肠道主要菌群的影响

选用初始体质量(3.02±0.16) g的吉富罗非鱼幼鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)450尾,随机分为5组,每组3个重复,每重复30尾实验鱼,分别饲喂添加壳寡糖质量分数为0.00%(对照组)、0.10%、0.30%、0.50%和0.70%的饲料8周,考查壳寡糖对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼生长性能、前肠组织结构及肠道主要菌群的影响.结果表明,在生长性能方面,添加0.30%、0.50%和0.70%壳寡糖组增重率分别较对照组显著提高12.53%、16.17%和9.47%(P<0.05);添加壳寡糖各组较对照组饲料系数显著降低,饲料干物质和蛋白质的表观消化率均显著升高(P<0.05).在肠道组织结构方面,与对照组相比,添加0.30%和0.50%壳寡糖组的幼鱼前肠绒毛长度显著增加了18.02%和23.21%,宽度显著增加了45.21%和54.06%,密度显著增加了15.18%和19.37%(P<0.05);添加0.30%、0.50%和0.70%壳寡糖组的幼鱼肠壁厚度较对照组分别减少了16.41%、19.96%和15.00%(P<0.05).在肠道主要菌群方面,各壳寡糖添加组大肠杆菌数量均显著降低,乳酸杆菌数量显著增加(P<0.05).上述结果表明,吉富罗非鱼幼鱼饲料中添加壳寡糖可提高其生长性能,并改善肠道内环境,推荐适宜添加量为0.30%~0.50%.     

Optimum selenium requirement of juvenile Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

A feeding experiment was conducted to determine the optimum selenium requirement in juvenile Nile tilapia. Each of six purified diets with Se‐methionine levels at 0.05, 0.21, 0.41, 0.57, 0.79 and 1.00 mg/kg was assayed in triplicate with initial body weight of 3.00 ± 0.01 g for 8 weeks. The growth of fish was obviously increased when the dietary Se was less than 0.57 mg/kg diet and reached a plateau when the dietary Se was ≥0.57 mg/kg. Serum and hepatopancreatic glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity increased markedly when the dietary Se was less than 0.57 mg/kg, but then decreased when the dietary Se was higher than 0.57 mg/kg. The malondialdehyde contents in hepatopancreas were significantly decreased when the dietary Se was higher than 0.79 mg/kg. No significant differences were observed in hepatopancreatic total antioxidant capability (T‐AOC) among the groups (p > .05). The results of this study indicated that Se addition as Se‐methionine was essential, while both the deficiency and excess levels of dietary Se would cause negative effects on growth or antioxidant capability in juvenile Nile tilapia. Based on broken‐line regression of WG and piecewise regression of liver GPx, the optimum requirement of Se for juvenile Nile tilapia is 0.57 mg/kg diet.     

Dietary valine requirement of juvenile Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to quantify the dietary valine requirement of cultured juvenile Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Six isonitrogenous (280 g/kg crude protein) and isoenergetic (16.06 MJ/kg gross energy) diets with graded levels of valine (amounting to 4.1, 7.2, 9.9, 12.7, 15.6 and 18.8 g/kg of dry diet) were formulated. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 20 fish (6.48 ± 0.06 g). Results showed that the weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and protein retention efficiency all increased with an increasing level of dietary valine up to 12.7 g/kg, but remained relatively constant for fish fed higher levels of dietary valine. In addition, the total protein concentration and aspirate aminotransferase activity in plasma, hepatic lysozyme and catalase activities were all significantly (p < .05) improved by dietary valine supplementation. Based on the broken‐line regression analysis of weight gain and protein retention efficiency, the optimal dietary valine requirement for juvenile Nile tilapia occurred between a level of 11.5 g/kg of diet (equivalent to 41.1 g/kg of dietary protein) and 12.7 g/kg of diet (equivalent to 45.3 g/kg of dietary protein).     

Effect of dietary betaine levels on growth performance and hepatic intermediary metabolism of GIFT strain of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus reared in freshwater

An 8‐week feeding experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary betaine levels on the growth performance and hepatic intermediary metabolism of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) strain of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (mean initial body weight: 78.3 ± 1.3 g, means ± SD). Six practical diets were formulated with the incorporation of betaine at the levels of 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 g kg⁻¹. Survival showed no significant differences among the treatments (P > 0.05). The highest and lowest weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) were observed for fish fed the diets containing 5 and 0 g kg⁻¹ (control) betaine, respectively. Feed intake showed similar trend with WG and SGR. In contrast, feed conversion ratio was the lowest when dietary betaine level was 5 g kg⁻¹. In general, dietary betaine supplementation showed no significant effect on hepatic composition of tilapia. Condition factor and viscerosomatic index tended to increase with increasing dietary betaine levels from 0 to 5 g kg⁻¹ and then decline when dietary betaine levels further increased from 5 to 25 g kg⁻¹. In contrast, hepatosomatic index declined with increasing dietary betaine levels (P < 0.05). Dietary betaine levels significantly influenced several hepatic enzymatic activities, including succinate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase, lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase, suggesting that dietary betaine addition had significant effects on nutrient metabolism in the liver. Based on the second‐order polynomial regression analysis of WG, 12.5 g kg⁻¹ of dietary betaine level seemed optimal for genetically improved farmed tilapia strain of O. niloticus.