PHYTOGENIC FEED ADDITIVE Anta®Ox FlavoSyn IMPROVES HARVEST VOLUMES OF RED NILE TILAPIA Oreochromis niloticus DUE TO HIGHER SURVIVAL
Improving the survival of red nile tilapia, Oreochromis Niloticus, measured by mortality, is an important factor to maximize production. Over the last 6 years, Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition has conducted several trials in order to test different combinations, of additives used in aqua feed, to find an optimal combination with effects to improve aquaculture production. Here, the feed additive manufacturer uses its own test facility for fish and crustaceans in Germany. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of the phytogenic feed additive Anta®Ox FlavoSyn, on performance and survival rate, in high standard healthy environments.
A 49 days feeding trial was conducted in our in-house research facility in Niederzissen, Germany. 8 tanks (45 liter water volume, 0.18m² water surface per tank) of the recirculation system were stocked with O. Niloticus with mean body weight of 0.39g (SD=0.03) at a density of 50 fish/tank (277 fish/m2, 0.43 kg/m³). Water temperature was maintained at 27°C ±1°C. Application of the product was tested against a negative control diet and each diet had 4 replicates. The inclusion level of the additive mix was 2 kg/t. The additive mix was added on top of the negative control diet powder mix. Afterwards the mash was pelleted. Final body weight and survival rate were recorded at the end of the trial and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and average weekly gain were calculated.
After 49 days, fish grew to a mean body weight of 2.15g (SD=0.14). The product group achieved a significant better total harvest than the negative control diet (Figure 1). Overall survival was higher than 90% in both groups. However, the product group reached 94%, 2% higher than the control (Figure 2). The FCR was not significantly different in the control group compared to treatment. We can conclude from this trial that the treatment with the phytogenic additive Anta®Ox FlavoSyn improves total harvest of tilapia also in high standard conditions.