The effect of supplementation of algae (Sargassum ilicifolium) on growth, feed and body chemical composition of the Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of algae (Sargassum ilicifolium) on the growth performances (final weight (FW), condition factor (CF), survival and daily growth ratio (DGR), feed indices (feed conversion rate (FCR), voluntary feed intake (VFI), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and lipid efficiency ratio (LER)) and body composition (protein, fat, moisture and ash) of for Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) 62 days. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 120 of Indian mackerel (with average weight of 18.93±0.56g and average length of 12.30± 0.17 cm) in 4 treatments and 3 replicates (n=10 in each replicate) and included: control group without usingof supplementation of algae , an another groups (treatment 2, 3 and 4) the amounts of this algae supplement were 5,10 and 15 g/kg food The results showed that at the end of experiment, the highest FW (31.54±1.19g), CF (1.10±0.06%), DGR (23.30±0.38%), the highest PER (27.04±0.53), and the highest LER (115.76±12.84) were observed in the diet containing 15 g /kg supplement and treatment 4 (15 g/kg)  and the lowest fat level of body composition (3.10±0.11%) and the highest protein level of body composition (19.46±0.26%)  showed a significant difference compared with control treatment (P<0.05). Finally, the present results suggest that diet containing 15 g/kg S. ilicifolium could improve growth, feed performances and carcass quality of R. kanagurta.