Growth Performance of Tilapia Fed Commercial Feed with Cellulolytic Bacteria from Ruminants

Abstract

Bacteria have the ability to decompose cellulose into glucose monomers and make it a carbon source and energy source. Cellulolytic bacteria are found in the digestive tract of ruminants. Utilization of cellulolytic bacteria as a producer of cellulase enzymes can be applied to fish to increase feed digestibility so that it can support growth. Cellulolytic bacteria isolated from ruminant were introduced to tilapia through feed. The study used a completely randomized design with four treatments and three replications. A total of 25 tilapia with a length of 10 cm were kept in each aquarium with a capacity of 250 L for 2 mo. During feed maintenance, cellulolytic bacteria were added at a dose of 1 %, 2 %, 3 % and without bacteria as a control. The specific growth rate of tilapia treated with 2 % and 3 % bacteria significantly increased. The feed was more efficiently utilized by tilapia when compared to that without the addition of cellulolytic bacteria or at a dose of 1 %. The amount of feed consumption did not differ between treatments, while the survival rate of tilapia treated with bacteria was significantly higher than without bacteria. Cellulolytic bacteria isolated from the digestive tract of ruminants added to commercial feed significantly improved the growth performance of tilapia.