کد مقاله | کد نشریه | سال انتشار | مقاله انگلیسی | نسخه تمام متن |
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2424450 | 1552957 | 2008 | 5 صفحه PDF | دانلود رایگان |
![عکس صفحه اول مقاله: The use of alfalfa, Medicago sativa as a natural carotenoid source in diets of goldfish, Carassius auratus The use of alfalfa, Medicago sativa as a natural carotenoid source in diets of goldfish, Carassius auratus](/preview/png/2424450.png)
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of diets including 0, 5, 10, 15, 25, and 40% alfalfa meals (containing 0, 20, 40, 60, 100, and 160 mg total carotenoids/kg diet, respectively) and 60 mg apo-ester, a synthetic carotenoid/kg diet on skin pigmentation, growth, feed utilization and survival of a red variety of goldfish, Carassius auratus, with average initial weight of 10.3 g, for a rearing period of 60 days. The pigmentation degree in skin of goldfish increased significantly with increasing inclusion of alfalfa up to 25% level in the diet (P < 0.05). However, the alfalfa inclusion over that level did not lead to more total carotenoid accumulation in the skin of fish. The diets including apo-ester and 15% alfalfa, both of which contained 60 mg carotenoid/kg diet, had similar effects on total carotenoid deposition in the skin of fish. Alfalfa addition of 25% or higher in the diet had an adverse effect on growth of fish compared to the control group (P < 0.05). A similar phenomenon was observed in feed conversion ratio but at the 40% alfalfa inclusion level (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the survival of the fish. The present results demonstrate that alfalfa can be successfully used as an alternative natural carotenoid source to the synthetic apo-ester in goldfish diets. Our data indicates that 15% is a suitable dietary level of alfalfa to ensure good pigmentation, acceptable growth and feed utilization in goldfish.
Journal: Aquaculture - Volume 284, Issues 1–4, 1 November 2008, Pages 196–200