dietary wood betony, Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl extract as a growth promoter and immune enhancer in common carp [Cyprinm carpio]

The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of wood betony [WB], Stachys lavandulifolia extract on growth performance and some immune responses in common carp, Cyprinus carpio. Different concentrations of the WB extract 0, 2, 4 and 8% [g per 100 g of diet] were added to commercial diet. Each treatment was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of fish having average initial weight of 44 +/- 0.62 g for 10 weeks. The results showed that final weight, food conversion ratio, specific growth rate and condition factor were significantly improved by WB in a dose dependent manner, where the best growth parameters were achieved in the group of fish receiving the highest concentration of WB [P<0.05]. Feeding fish at 2 and 4% W/W by WB in the diet improved lysozyme activity, ACH[50] and IgM levels significantly in comparison to the control [P<0.05]. Group offish fed on 4% WB in the diet had the best levels of the immune characteristics [P<0.05]. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to feed common carp with WB to improve growth and non-specific immunity

Growth performance and some haematological parameters of ornamental striped catfish [Pangasianodon hypophthalmus] fed on dietary nucleotide

The effects of dietary nucleotide [NT] on growth performance and some haematological parameters of striped catfish [Pangasianodon hypophthalmus] were investigated. Different levels of the NT [0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1%] in the diet were used for 10 weeks starting on the fish weighted [1.52 +/- 0.11 g]. The results showed that NT supplementations did not improve final weight, weight gain, food conservation ratio as well as specific growth rates of striped catfish [P>0.05]. Among all growth evaluated parameters, only the condition factor was significantly improved in fish fed on 0.75 and 1% of NT in comparison to control [P<0.05]. There were no significant differences in hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean erythrocytic hemoglobin, mean erythrocytic volume, and mean erythrocytic hemoglobin concentration, white blood cell [WBC] counts and WBC/RBC ratio among fish fed on dietary nucleotide and control diet [P>0.05]. However, some significant fluctuations were observed in the haematological parameters within groups of fish fed on different levels of NT [P<0.05]. The results showed that feeding striped catfish with commercial NT had very limited effect on growth parameters and some haematological characteristics. Key words: Weight gain, Dietary component, Blood indices, Fresh water catfish