Effect of dietary phytogenic Digestarom P.E.P on growth performance and some digestive traits of the giant Gourami (Osphronemus goramy)

Digestarom P.E.P is a standardized commercial blend of phytogenic compounds (i.e. carvacrol, anthoole, and limonene) and perbiotic compounds (i.e. fructoliosaccharides) that have the main function of stabilizing the beneficial microbial flora of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels of dietary Digestarom P.E.P. on some growth performance, intestine morphology, and intestine microbial flora of the giant Gourami. Therefore, four experimental treatments containing 0, 5, 10 and 15 mg of Digestarom powder inn kg of feed were designed with three replicates. The diet with no additive substances was considered as a control group. Fry fish (initial weight of 1.3 ± 0.2 g) were fed with the supplement for a period of 60 days. At the end of the trial, some gastrointestinal traits (visceral index, intestinal lactobacilli bacteria, intestinal villus length and width) were measured. The results showed that the addition of Digestarom P.E.P. positively affecting the final weight, specific growth rate, and reduced feed conversion ratio in fry compared to control group (P<0.05). Also, that the maximum body weight (22.62 g) was related to 15% Digestarom P.E.P. and the lowest value (10.13 g) was related to control treatment (P<0.05). Results of visceral index showed no significant difference between treatments (P<0.05). Also, the highest number of lactobacilli bacteria was observed in treatment with 15% Digestarom P.E.P. and lowest in control treatment. The highest length of the intestinal villus was observed in treatments of 10 (963 μm) and 15 (962 μm) mg/kg Digestarom P.E.P. (P<0.05). The results of this study showed that the addition of phytogenic Digestarom P.E.P. at 15% in the fish diet may have a significant positive effect on growth performance and microbial flora of the gastro-intestinal tract.