Evaluation of garlic and onion powder as phyto-additives in the diet of sea bass (Dicentrarcus labrax)

Abstract

The present study is a preliminary work which was conducted to evaluate the impact of adding 3 levels of garlic (10, 20 and 30 g/kg diet) as well as onion powder (5, 10 and 20 g/kg diet) in a basal diet of sea bass (Dicentrarcus labrax) fry (initial weight = 0.4 ± 0.05 g/fish) on growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, survival rate and some hematological parameters. The present results suggested that dietary garlic or onion powder administrated separately at levels of 30 or 10 g/kg respectively could improve survival, growth and feed utilization of sea bass fry. Administration of garlic and onion indicates a slide edge for garlic to onion in growth, feed utilization and fish protein content. It will also induce a significant increase in some blood variables (hemoglobin content, hematocrit value, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and leukocytes count) in treated fish when compared to the control fish group.

Keywords

• Body composition
• Feed utilization
• Growth
• Hematological parameters