Exploring the Composition and Functional Attributes of Brown Seaweed for Promoting Nile Tilapia Growth under Cold Stress

Abstract

The proximate composition and functional attributes were analyzed for brown seaweeds (Padina vickersiae, Sargassum polycystum, Sargassum vulgare, Turbinaria murrayana, and Turbinaria ornata)relative to the growth of Nile tilapia fish. The collected seaweeds were dried in an oven at 70 °C for 12 h. Seaweed contained a maximum of total protein, dietary fibre, and low concentration of lipids. The nutrient rich seaweeds were mixed with the fish diet at various concentrations (2% to 10%). The formulated feed was fed to tilapia, which improved growth performance, feed conversion ratio, and specific growth rate after 60 days of experiment. At 8% concentration of seaweed in the fish diet fish growth was improved significantly relative to the control diet (p<0.05). To analyse cold stress, Oreochromis niloticus were maintained at 15 °C for seven days. The administered seaweed diet significantly decreased catalase activity (p<0.05) and lipid peroxidation activity (p<0.05) in tilapia fish relative to the  control (without seaweed mixture). The supplemented brown algal diet improved superoxide dismutase enzyme activity (p<0.05) and glutathione S-transferase activity than control fish (p<0.05). The present findings revealed that brown algae have the potential to be used as feed supplements to improve the growth and health benefits of Nile tilapia.