Effect of Using Dried Fenugreek Seeds as Natural Feed Additives on Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, Whole-body Composition and Entropathogenic Aeromonas Hydrophila-challinge of Monsex Nile Tilapia O. Niloticus (L) Fingerlings.

3 - Abstract: The present study was conducted to evaluate the use of Fenugreek Seeds meal (FKSM), as natural feed additives, in diets for fingerlings monsex N ile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (9.80±23 g). Four diets are isonitrogenous (30% crude protein),and isocaloric (4.40 kcal / g diet) were categorized into four groups contain 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 % of FKSM. The effect of FKSM on growth performance, feed utilization and entropathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila-challinge of monxes Nile tolapia O. niloticus (L) fingerlings (L.) were evaluated. Diets were fed to triplicate groups of monosex Nile tilapia at a rate of 4 % of live body weight. The feed was offered twice daily; six days a week for 90 days. Results showed that fish fed diets containing 1 % FKSM had significantly higher (P<0.05) growth performance (body weight, weight gain, gain % specific growth rate (SGR). The lowest fish growth was obtained at control diet.Survival rate of Nile tilapia fed all the experiments ranged from 93.33 % to 100 % without significantly difference among them. Feed intake (FI), Feed efficiency ratio (FER), protein efficiency ratio (PER), apparent protein utilization (APU), and energy utilization (EU) increased significantly, while feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased significantly in diet containing 1 % FKSM. While FCR increased significantly for control diet. There were no significant difference were observed in dry matter, protein, lipid, or ash content of Ni le tilapia fed diets containing various levels of FKSM. The highest reduction in feed cost compared with control diet showed to produce one kg fish gain of treatment containing 1 % Fenugreek. Results in somatic indices measurements for Nile tilapia of K-factor, LS-index and VS-index similar or little lower than those of fish fed the control diet The results of fish challenge against A. hydrophila for 10 days, mortality not observed in fish fed diet containing different level of fenugreek.While mortality percentage in fish fed control diet was 89 %. The samples were analyzed for haematology and serum biochemistry. Hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells ( RBCs) count, haematocrite ( PCV) ,serum total protein and globulin significantly (P < 0.05) increase with increase fenugreek in the dietary levels but, no significant difference in the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity and glucose was observed among the groups after feeding in all trails relative to fed control, whereas, fish fed on 0.5% exhibited significantly increase and the highest values of albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea and creatinine. Total lipids and A/G ratio of fish fed on diet exhibited significantly decrease lower values than control.