Brown propolis extract in feed as a growth promoter of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus 1758) fingerlings |
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Authors: | Fábio Meurer Mateus Matiuzzi da Costa Diogo Andrade Dubourcq de Barros Samira Teixeira Leal de Oliveira & Patrícia Santana da Paixão |
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Institution: | Colegiado Acadêmico de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina –Pernambuco –Brazil |
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Abstract: | This study assessed the use of increasing levels of brown propolis extract (BPE) as a growth promoter in Nile tilapia fingerling feeds. In a complete randomized design, 75 Nile tilapia fingerlings with 60 days on average and weighing 4.1±0.1 g were assigned to 25 aquaria (60 L) and subjected to 5 treatments in 5 repetitions for 30 days. Propolis from Serra do Araripe, Cariri Region, South Ceará State – Brazil was used to produce the BPE. The treatments involved the addition of BPE to feed samples (0.91, 1.83, 2.74 and 3.65 g kg?1) and feed control (without BPE). The final mean weight and the percentage of weight gain varied quadratically with the increase in BPE ( P <0.01), with a maximum of 2.22 g kg?1. The other evaluated parameters were not affected by the treatments ( P >0.05). The level of best performance parameters was 2.22 g kg?1, between the levels of 1.83 and 2.74 g BPE kg?1 feed inclusion. These results indicate the potential to use the brown propolis extract as a growth promoter to Nile tilapia fingerlings. |
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Keywords: | aquaculture feed additive fish nutrition Oreochromis niloticus |
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