Growth performance and feed utilization of keureling fish Tor tambra (Cyprinidae) fed formulated diet supplemented with enhanced probiotic.

Abstract

<b>Background</b> The objective of the present study was to determine the optimum dosage of probiotic in the diet of keureling fish ( <i>Tor tambra</i>) fry. <b>Methods</b><i>Lactobacillus casei</i> from Yakult® was used as a starter, and enhanced with <i>Curcuma xanthorrhiza</i>, <i>Kaempferia galanga</i> and molasses. The mixture was fermented for 7 days prior to use as probiotic in a formulated diet containing 30% crude protein. Four levels of probiotic dosage; 0 ml kg ^-1 (control), 5 ml kg ^-1, 10 ml kg ^-1 and 15 ml kg ^-1 were tested in this study. The fish was fed twice a day at 08.00 AM and 06.00 PM at the ration of 5% body weight for 80 days. <b>Results</b> The results showed that growth performance and feed efficiency increased with increasing probiotic dosage in the diet from control (no probiotic) to 10 ml kg ^-1 of probiotic dosage and then decreased when the dosage was increased up to 15 ml kg ^-1. <b>Conclusions</b> The best values for all measured parameters were recorded at the dosage of 10 ml kg ^-1. Therefore, it was concluded that the optimum dosage of enhanced probiotic for <i>T. tambra</i> fry was 10 ml kg ^-1 of feed.