Effects of dietary lactic acid supplementation on growth performance, hemato-immunological parameters, and calcium and phosphorus status of common carp, Cyprinus carpio

Abstract

The present study aimed at investigating the effects of dietary lactic acid (LA) supplementation on growth performance, mineral status, and hemato-immunological parameters in common carp, Cyprinus carpio. Four diets were formulated to contain 0 (control), 2.5, 5, and 10 g/kg LA and offered to fish over a 65-d period. Each diet was offered to three 150-L tanks, stocked with 15 fish with average weight of ∼25 g. At the end of the feeding trial, growth performance and feed efficiency in 5 g/kg LA treatment were significantly higher than the control treatment. Plasma phosphorus and calcium significantly increased in 2.5 and 5 g/kg LA treatments, compared to the control, and the highest plasma calcium level was related to 5 g/kg LA treatment. All LA-treated fish have significantly higher muscle and vertebrae phosphorus and calcium contents, compared to the control fish. The highest muscle and vertebrae phosphorus and vertebrae calcium were observed in 5 g/kg LA treatment. Plasma zinc, copper, iron, magnesium, RBC, hemoglobin, and WBC of all LA-treated fish were significantly higher than the control. The highest plasma iron was observed in 5 g/kg LA treatment; the highest plasma zinc was observed in 5 and 10 g/kg LA treatments; the highest hemoglobin was observed in 2.5 g/kg LA treatment; and the highest WBC was observed in 2.5 and 5 g/kg LA treatments. Hematocrit in 2.5 and 5 g/kg LA treatments was significantly higher than the control. There was no significant changes in whole body composition among the treatments. In conclusion, dietary 5 g/kg LA supplementation is recommended for common carp feed to improve, growth performance, hemato-immunological parameters, and mineral status.

Keywords

• Minerals
• Organic acid
• Nutrition
• Blood cells
• Retention