Effect of garlic extract on growth, feed and carcass composition of Mugil cephalus

In this study, the effect of garlic extract on the growth performances (body weight increase (BWI), specific growth rate (SGR), condition factor (CF), final length (FL) and weight (FW)), feed indices (feed conversion rate (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), protein production ratio (PPR)) and body composition (protein, fat, moisture and ash) of Mugil cephalus larvae were studied in four treatments (three replication for each treatment) for 30 days. For this purpose, Mugil cephalus larvae (with average weight of 0.45±0.01g) were fed with three diets containing 0.5,1 and 3% garlic extract and control group was fed with diet artificial food without garlic extract. The results showed that at the end of experiment, the highest FW (0.78±0.05g), FL (4.04±0.14 cm), the highest BWI (85.13±17.19%), SGR (1.93±0.31%), PPR (20.99±0.03%), the lowest fat level of body composition (3.37±0.01%) and the highest protein level of body composition (20, 99±0.03%) were observed in the diet containing 3% garlic extract, and in all of these parameters, this treatment (3%garlic extract) showed a significant difference compared with control treatment (P<0.05). Finally, the present results suggest that diet containing 3% garlic extract could improve growth, feed performances and carcass quality of Mugil cephalus larvae.