Effects of cyclic and regular feeding of a Quillaja saponin supplemented diet on growth and metabolism of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Fifteen common carp weighing 19.2±2.9 g were reared individually in chambers of a respirometer system which allowed feeding, and continuous measurement of oxygen consumption. The fish were divided into three groups of 5 each, and were given control feed (C group), control feed supplemented with 150 mg kg⁻¹ of Quillaja saponins (QS) (S150 group), and control and the saponin supplemented diet during alternate weeks (S150b group), for 56 days. Supplementation with QS at a level of 150 mg kg⁻¹ caused a significant (P<0.05) increase in metabolic growth rate, food conversion efficiency (FCE), protein productive value (PPV) and apparent lipid conversion (ALC) of carp, even as the metabolic rate was lower than the C group. The efficiency of energy utilisation indicated by parameters such as energy expenditure (EE), energy retention (ER) and amount of oxygen consumed per unit body mass gain (OPM) were also significantly (P<0.05) better in the S150 group. The performance of the S150b group was intermediate between the C and S150 group in this experiment. Possible reasons for the effects of dietary QS are discussed. It was concluded that there has to be continuous dietary supply of QS at the level of 150 mg kg⁻¹, for maximum positive effects of these substances on growth of common carp. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.