The Optimal Dosage of Fermented Herbal Extract on Growth and Feed Efficiency of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Owing to their availability, cost effectiveness and environmental-friendly nature, plant extracts are promising additives for fish farming. This study aims to determine the optimal dosage of fermented herbal extract (FHE)-composed of Morus alba (33.3%), Curcuma xanthorrhiza (33.3%), and Boesenbergia rotunda (33.3%)-for growth enhancement and feed utilisation efficiency of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings. Fermentation was conducted using probiotics Lactobacillus casei (Yakult®, Tokyo, Japan) and Saccharomyces cereviceae (commercial baker's yeast). The FHE was high in flavonoid and alkaloid, vitamin C, potassium, natrium, lipase and protease. Four doses of FHE treatments, namely treatment A (0 mg/kg of feed); treatment B (100 mg/kg of feed); treatment C (300 mg/kg of feed); treatment D (500 mg/kg of feed) were compared. After subjected to 35 days of culture, tilapias subjected to FHE-coated feed exhibited better weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed efficiency (FE) compared to control. The best dosage that gave the highest growth and feed efficiency was treatment C (300 mg/kg of feed). Furthermore, the feed efficiencies of FHE-incorporated treatments were positively influenced by the increased in length and density of intestinal villi, number of goblet cells, lymphocytes, as well as nutrient retention to support growth. The results of this study indicate that FHE is a promising functional feed additive to stimulate growth and improve feed efficiency in tilapia farming.Disebabkan ketersediaan, keberkesanan kos dan sifat mesra alamnya, ekstrak tumbuhan ialah bahan tambahan yang mempunyai harapan cerah dalam penternakan ikan. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan dos optimum ekstrak herba yang ditapai (FHE)— yang terdiri daripada Morus alba (33.3%) Curcuma xanthorrhiza (33.3%) dan Boesenbergia rotunda (33.3%)—untuk peningkatan pertumbuhan dan kecekapan penggunaan makanan Oreochromis niloticus ikan kecil. Penapaian dijalankan menggunakan probiotik Lactobacillus casei (Yakult®, Tokyo, Jepun) dan Saccharomyces cereviceae (yis pembuat roti komersial). FHE tinggi dalam flavonoid dan alkaloid, vitamin C, kalium, natrium, lipase dan protease. Empat dos rawatan FHE, iaitu rawatan A (0 mg/kg makanan); rawatan B (100 mg/kg makanan); rawatan C (300 mg/kg makanan); rawatan D (500 mg/kg makanan) dibandingkan. Selepas menjalani kultur selama 35 hari, tilapia yang diberi makanan bersalut FHE menunjukkan peningkatan berat (WG), kadar pertumbuhan spesifik (SGR) dan kecekapan makanan (FE) yang lebih baik berbanding tilapia kawalan. Dos terbaik yang memberikan pertumbuhan tertinggi dan kecekapan makanan adalah rawatan C (300 mg/kg makanan). Tambahan pula, kecekapan suapan rawatan yang diperbadankan FHE dipengaruhi secara positif oleh peningkatan panjang dan ketumpatan vilus usus, bilangan sel goblet, limfosit, serta pengekalan nutrien untuk menyokong pertumbuhan. Hasil kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa FHE ialah bahan tambahan makanan berfungsi yang menjanjikan untuk merangsang pertumbuhan dan meningkatkan kecekapan makanan dalam penternakan tilapia.