EFFECT OF VITAMIN A ANDD3 SUPPLEMENTAION ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF NILE TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS)

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplemental levels of vitamin A (0; 20,000 and 40,000 IU/kg/diet) and 10 mg vitamin D3/kg diet on the growth performance of Nile tilapia, (Oreochromisniloticus).The180 fish were randomly divided into four treated groups each of 45 fish and each group was divided into 3 subgroups (15 fish / unit). The fish groups fed twice daily at 3% of body weight for 10 weeks. The body weight and total length were recorded biweekly all over the experimental period. At the end of experiment ten fish were scarified to determine hepatosmatic index (HSI), spleen somatic index (SSI), and gonadosomatic index (GSI).The results at the end of the experiment indicated that there was insignificant (P> 0.05) increase in body weight, body weight gain and total length. The specific growth rate (SGR %) increased insignificantly (P> 0.05) in fish group fed 10 mg vitamin D3/kg as compared to the control ones. While, the condition factor (K-value) decrease insignificantly (P> 0.05) in the fish group fed 20,000 IU vitamin A/kg than the control ones. Feed conversion ratio was insignificant (P > 0.05) decrease in treated fish with 10 mg vitamin D3 /kg as compared with other fish groups and control ones. Contrary, the hepatosomatic index (HSI) increase insignificantly (P > 0.05) as compared to the other fish groups and control. Moreover, all the doses of vitamin A and vitamin D3 had no effect on spleensomatic index (SSI) and gonadosomatic index (GSI). Results of the current study concluded that the studied levels of vitamin A and D3 had insignificant (P>0.05) effect on growth parameters of Nile tilapia, Oreochromisniloticus.