Abstract
This work examines the economic advantages of probiotic use in the diet of Nile tilapia broodstock during the reproductive period. For this purpose, Bacillus subtilis was applied as a feed additive. The experimental design was completely randomized with three treatment groups: the T0 control (without probiotic), the T1 continuous probiotic intake, and the T2 alternate probiotic intake at a dose of 0.50 g kg-1 of feed (1010 CFU g-1) with four replicates. For the reproduction assay, 118 females and 48 males of Nile tilapia (proportion 4 males:9 females. hapa-1) (weight 527.65 g ± 185.98 g and length 30.16 cm ± 3.57 cm) were distributed into 12 hapas (3.5 × 2.0 × 1.5 m). Reproductive variables (spawning female percentage, egg production, and fry production) were used to calculate the economic feasibility indexes (total cost of nutrition [TcN], gross revenue [GR], and total operational profit [ToP]). The results show increasing values for spawning female number, collected eggs, and surviving fry in the probiotic groups. We recommend continuous intake of probiotic (feed with addition of probiotic) at a dose of 0.5 g kg-1 of feed (1010 CFU g-1) during the breeding season of Nile tilapia, due to the suitable reproductive indexes and profitability.
Highlights
The expansion of aquaculture can be attributed to industrial diet production technologies, where finding ingredients that allow formulation and production of animal feed with high quality and low cost are the primary challenges (Cyrino, Bicudo, Sado, Borghesi, & Dairik, 2010)
The development of feed additives may represent an alternative solution for improving growth performance (Sutili, Gatlin III, Heinzmann, & Baldisserotto, 2018; Wang, Tian, Yao, & Li, 2008), optimizing resistance to infectious diseases (Nayak, 2010; Sutili et al, 2018) and reducing the quantities of antibiotic applied in fish farming (Sutili et al, 2018)
According to Chantharasophon, Warong, Mapatsa, and Leelavatcharamas (2011) and Newaj-Fyzul and Austin (2015), a wide range of bacterial species have been applied as probiotics including Bacillus sp. (e.g. Bacillus subtilis, B. licheniformis, and B. cereus), Enterococcus sp. (e.g. Enterococcus faecium), and Lactobacillus sp. (e.g. Lactobacillus acidophilus)
Summary
The expansion of aquaculture can be attributed to industrial diet production technologies, where finding ingredients that allow formulation and production of animal feed with high quality and low cost are the primary challenges (Cyrino, Bicudo, Sado, Borghesi, & Dairik, 2010). B. subtilis is frequently used as a probiotic in aquatic feed due to its capacity to form spores and compatibility with lyophilization. This bacterial species supports the adverse conditions encountered in the gastrointestinal tract (e.g. low pH, presence of bile salt and digestive enzymes), remaining viable and promoting beneficial effects related to the improvement of water quality (e.g. oxidation of organic matter), the growth performance (e.g. production of digestive enzymes), the immune system (e.g. innate immunity), and reproduction (e.g. increase of oocyte number and fertilization rate) (Cutting, 2011; Dias et al, 2012a; ElHaroun, Goda, & Chowdhury, 2006; Peredo, Buentello, Gatlin III, & Hume, 2015; Soto, 2017)
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