Effect of dietary phytoextracts supplementation on growth performance and production efficiency of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), cultivated in recirculation system

Kremena Georgieva

Abstract: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary phytoextract supplementation on growth performance and production efficiency of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), cultivated in a recirculaiton system. The following spices were tested: curcuma, pepper, thyme, oregano and garlic. The fish were divided into six groups: one control (C) and five experimental groups whose feed was supplemented with curcuma (EC), pepper (EP), thyme (ET), oregano (EO) and garlic (EG). The highest values of the final live weight were established in fish, fed with extruded pellets, supplemented with curcuma (EC) which exceeded control and other experimental groups’ performance by 3.37% (C), 5.73% (EP), 2.06% (ET) 1.60% (EO) and 5.83% (EG). The differences were insignificant both among the groups and between replications within groups (P>0.05). The weight gain of common carp from experimental groups EC and EO was statistically significantly higher than C (Р<0.05). The analysis of results confirmed the better growth performance in fish from EC, EP, ET and EO compared to common carp from control group. Relatively lower growth was demonstrated in fish from the EG. Consumption data showed that feed conversion ratio (FCR) of carps, fed with extruded pellets, supplemented with oregano extract (EO) was 1.47. It is lower than respective FCR of other groups by 19.72 % (C), 4.08 % (EC), 14.97 % (EP), 8.16 % (ET) and 38.10 % (EG). Statistically significantly lower feed consumption per unit weight gain was established for carps from a group EO than C (Р<0.05). The survival rate of all fish from control and experimental groups was 100%. Economic conversion ratio of phytoextracts supplementation to the feed of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), was lower in EO. It was lower than ECR values of fish from control and other groups.

Keywords: common carp; economic efficiency; feed conversion ratio; growth performance; phytoextracts

Date published: 2018-04-27