Abstract:
We investigated the effect of dietary graded level of
Gracilaria lemaneiformis on the growth performance, fatty acid composition, body composition, immunity and intestinal histology of red drum (
Sciaenops ocellatus) initial weight (9.38±0.06) g.Six isoproteic and isolipidic diets (crude protein: 41%;crude fat: 10%) were formulated containing 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5%
G. lemaneiformis. After eight weeks of feeding, no significant difference was found in survival, weigh gain (WG) and specific growth ratio (SGR) (
P>0.05), but weight gains in 1%~4% groups were higher than that in the control whereas 1% group had the highest feed efficiency and SGR among all treatments. The concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were significantly higher in 5% group than that in the control (
P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) in 4% group was significantly higher than that in the control (
P < 0.05);well-developed intestinal villi was presented in 3% addition group. The results indicate that dietary supplementation of
G. lemaneiformis can improve the growth as well as liver and intestinal health, increasing whole fish DHA content.