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Effect of dietary vitamin C on growth and survival of GIFT Tilapia

Article  in  Journal of Agriculture & Rural Development · December 2019

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BOU J Agric Rural Dev 11(2):37-42, December 2019 ISSN 1810-1860

BOUJARD
Bangladesh Open University Journal
of Agriculture & Rural Development

Effect of dietary vitamin C on growth and survival of GIFT Tilapia

B. Baroi, M.H. Rahman, M.F. Rohani, M.S. Hossain*
Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202

ABSTRACT
A feeding trial was conducted for 70 days in 12 experimental cisterns to evaluate the effect of dietary
vitamin C on the growth and survival rate of genetically improved farmed tilapia, GIFT (Oreochromis
niloticus). A total of 672 fingerlings of mean initial weight of 5.95  0.7 g were stocked at the same
stocking density (35/ m3). Four different treatments (T1, T2, T3 and T4) with three replication having
different level of vitamin C such as 0 mg vitamin C/kg (Control-T1), 50 mg vitamin C/kg (T2), 100 mg
vitamin C/kg (T3) and 150 mg vitamin C/kg (T4). Feeds were supplied at the rate of 5% for first two
weeks, 4% for following two weeks and 3% of the body weight for the rest of the experimental period
twice daily throughout the study period. At the end of the 70 days study period, the highest mean final
weight 30.94±1.54 in T4, whereas, the minimum final weight was 24.71 0.76 in Tı. The food
conversion ratio in treatment 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 1.29±0.04, 1.27±0.06, 1.17±0.02 and 1.14±0.10,
respectively. The food conversion efficiency (FCE) T1, T2, T3 and T4 were 0.77 ±0.03, 0.78 ±0.05, 0.93
±0.02 and 0.79 (±0.08), respectively. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) in treatment 1, 2, 3 and 4 were
2.85±0.12, 2.9 ± 0.19, 3.23±0.08 and 3.25±0.33, respectively. The specific growth rate (SGR%/day)
in treatment 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 2.03 ± 0.02, 2.16 ± 0.08, 2.27 ± 0.05 and 2.32 ±0.03, respectively.
The best performance found for 150 mg vitamin C/kg. The poorest was found for 0 mg vitamin C/kg.
The study recommended that the 150 mg vitamin C/kg containing feed could be the best for growth
performance and survival rate of GIFT tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).
Key words: effect, vitamin C, growth, survival rate, GIFT tilapia

INTRODUCTION
Bangladesh is one of the world’s leading inland fish producing countries, contributing about 3.50%
to GDP (Gross Domestic Product), 25.71% to agricultural production (DoF, 2019). The aquaculture
and fisheries sub-sector also plays an important role in alleviation of protein deficiency. Fish is the
major protein source contributing about 60% of total animal protein intake (DoF, 2019). Among the
freshwater fishes, tilapia is one of the most important groups of fish in our country and is showing a
promising future for commercial culture. Tilapia is a pretty impressive source of protein. Vitamin C
(ascorbic acid) is an essential nutrient in aqua-feeds, and is an indispensable nutrient required to
maintain physiological processes such as normal growth, immunity and reproduction of different
animals including fishes. Vitamin C also plays a critical role in its repair and wound healing (Halver
et al., 2002). Vitamin C has been found to be one of nutrients correlating with fish immunity
(Anbarasu and Chandran, 2001). A number of studies have shown beneficial effects of vitamin C
on immunological parameters, such as lysozyme and complementing activities, phagocytic activity,
respiratory burst (Ortuno et al., 2001). An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of
dietary levels of vitamin C (0, 100 and 200 mg/kg) on the growth performance of channel catfish
(Ictalurus punctatus). The results indicated that supplementation on vitamin C (100 mg/kg) gave the
best for good growth, feed efficiency, survival and prevention of vertebral deformity and optimum
hematological indicates (Mediha et al., 2008). Nsonga et al. (2009) showed that minimum weight

*
Corresponding author: : [email protected]
© 2019 School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bangladesh Open University, All rights reserved.
M.S. Hossain et al.

gain 1.03  0.35 g for 0 mg/kg feed and highest weight gain 10.03  0.33 g for 60 mg/kg feed, but
highest level of vitamin C was 80mg/kg feed.
A study was conducted to evaluate the performance on 120 fish (O. niloticus) which were
reared in three ponds for 5 months at El-kanater station. Pond І was untreated groups, pond ІІ pond
ІІІ were treated by vitamin C. This was conducted to demonstrate the effect of vitamin C to illustrate
the best treatment that gave the maximum growth rate. The results showed noticeable increase in
growth rate of fish reared in vitamin C than in untreated group (Soaad, 2009). Inadequate supply of
dietary vitamin C usually results in a number of deficiency signs such as spinal deformation,
impaired collagen formation, internal hemorrhage and retarded growth. Therefore, an exogenous
source of vitamin C is required in fish diets. For fish, the optimum amounts of vitamin C in
formulated feeds are important because either low or high levels of vitamin may lead to poor
growth. As well, excess Vitamin C in fish diet may be wasteful and cause the diets to be
unnecessarily expensive. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of
different levels of vitamin C on the growth performances and survival rate of genetically improved
farmed tilapia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study area and experimental design
The experiment was carried out in 12 cisterns behind the main building of Fisheries faculty,
Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU), Mymensingh. The size of each cistern was 1.6 m 3 and
volume of water was 1600 L. Stored ground water was used for rearing the fish. The genetically
improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) fingerlings were randomly distributed at a rate of 35/m 3. The
cisterns were covered with a net of 2 mm mesh size in order to prevent the fishes in the cistern
from escaping out and also to protect the cisterns from foreign materials or predators. Four
treatments were used with three replicates, where each replicates in the various treatments had
labels T1R1, T1R2, T1R3 for treatment one (control); T2R1, T2R2, T2R3 for treatment two, T3R1, T3R2,
T3R3 for treatment three and T4R1, T4R2, T4R3. Uneaten feed and faeces were siphoned every
morning prior to feeding using a siphoned tube. The fish in each of the cistern was weighed
biweekly using an electronic balance.
Experimental fish and acclimatization
Fingerlings of similar weight and age group were collected from local gold medalist hatchery of
Mymensingh. The oxygenated plastic bag was used for transported the fish. The plastic bags
containing the fingerlings were immediately placed in a cistern containing half-filled water. For the
acclimatization the fish were released in the tank after submerging the polyethylene bag with fishes
for some time to adjust the temperature. During the acclimatization period, each cistern was
monitored for daily fish mortality and dead fishes were removed from the cisterns. The fingerlings
were fed a control diet at every 9 am and 4 pm for five days and were then starved for 24 hours
prior to the start of the experiment before evenly stocked into the 12 cisterns at a stocking density
of 35/ m3 fingerlings per cistern at four trials with three replicates.
Experimental diets
Locally procured feed ingredients were used to formulate the diet for the fingerlings throughout the
experiment. The feed ingredients for all three diets had a constant inclusion level of: rice bran (RB)
30%, wheat bran (WB) 20%, soybean meal (SBM) 25%, fish meal (FM) 20%, molasses 4%, vitamin
and mineral premix 1%. The ingredients used for preparation of basal experimental diets along with
their proximate composition are shown in Table I.

38
 Effect of dietary vitamin C on growth and survival of gift Tilapia

Table I. Proximate composition of feed ingredients (% dry matter basis)

Feed Crude Protein Crude Lipid Moisture Ash (%) Crude Fibre NFE
Ingredients (%) (%) (%) (%)
Fish meal 55.31 13.71 8.87 16.57 2.70 2.84
Rice bran 12.46 14.18 13.71 11.47 10.78 37.40
Wheat bran 14.51 4.03 14.46 6.24 15.26 45.50
Soybean 34.80 3.60 13.48 7.40 6.42 34.30
Meal
Molasses - - - - - -
Vitamin - - - - - -
Mineral
Premix
Each ingredient of the feed was ground to dust using a grinding machine. All the various
components were mixed in their various ratios in order to produce the various diets needed for the
experiment. A total of four diets were formulated with varying proportions at 0 mg/kg (T1), 50 mg/kg
(T2), 100 mg/kg (T3) and 150 mg/kg (T4) inclusion with vitamin C. The feed ingredients (finely
ground and sieved) were weighed accordingly, moistened with water to form dough and pelletized
using an electric meat mincer. The feeds were stored in airtight polythene bags at room
temperature. The experimental diet samples were analyzed for moisture (%), ash (%), crude
protein (%), crude fibre (%), lipids (%) and NFE (%). These analyses were carried out at the Fish
Nutrition Laboratory of the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh using following AOAC
(2000) method (AOAC, 2000). Proximate composition of the four formulated feed is shown in Table
II.
Table II. Analyzed proximate composition of the experimental diet (% dry matter basis)

Diet Moisture Crude Lipid Crude Protein Ash (%) Crude Fibre NFE
(%) (%) (%) (%)
Control 10.45 7.40 27.90 14.60 5.40 34.25
Diet 2 10.59 7.95 28.40 14.90 4.90 33.26
Diet 3 10.35 8.20 28.65 15.40 5.80 31.60
Diet 4 10.09 7.90 28.80 14.60 5.50 33.11
Fish feeding and cistern management
The fish were fed at 5% for first two weeks, 4% for following two weeks and 3% of the body weight
for the rest of the experimental period in two rations, during the morning at 9 am and the afternoon
at 4 pm throughout the experiment. The amount was fixed after observing that they were not
interested to have more than this percent of feed. The rations were adjusted every two weeks when
new weights of the fish for various experimental cisterns were determined. Left over feed and
faeces in each cistern were siphoned every morning prior to feeding and replaced with fresh water.
Monitoring of water quality
Physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH in the various
aquariums were taken once per week during the early morning periods prior to siphoning and
feeding throughout the experimental period.
Determination of growth and nutrient utilization
The biweekly weights of fish and feed supplied was recorded and used to compute the growth
nutrient utilization parameters. Fingerings were released into the cistern after recording the weight.
The growth and nutrient utilization parameters such as weight gain (g), percentage weight gain (%),
specific growth rate (SGR, %/day), protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed conversion ratio (FCR),
survival rate (%) were calculated.

39
M.S. Hossain et al.

Statistical analysis
The collected data were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA with the help of SPSS to see
whether the influence of different treatments on these parameters were significant or not. The
means of different treatment were compared by DMRT (Duncan, 1955) to test the significance of
variation between the treatment means at p<0.05.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Water quality parameter
The water temperature, dissolved oxygen content, pH monitored during the study period in the
experimental cisterns varied from 27.60-29.63C; 8.3-9.4 mg/l and 7.98 – 8.20, respectively. Boyd
(1982) reported that the range of water temperature from 26.06 to 3l.97C is suitable for fish
culture.
Growth performance and feed utilization of GIFT
The growth performances of GIFT in terms of initial weight (g), Final weight (g), weight gain (g),
percent weight gain (%), and specific growth rate (%/day) were calculated at the end of the
experiment. The initial average weight of GIFT in different treatments was 5.95  0.7 g (Table III).
There was no significant difference in mean initial weight of the species. The mean final weight of
GIFT in different treatments varied from 24.71 0.76 g to 30.941.54 g. The mean weight gain (g)
in T4 was significantly higher followed by T3, T2 and T1, respectively. The mean weight gain of
different treatments ranged from 18.78 0.68 g to 25.05 1.61 g (Table III). The mean weight gain
of experimental fish was found highest in treatment T 4 followed by T3, T2, and Tı, respectively.
Nsonga et al. (2009) showed that minimum weight gain 1.03  0.35 g for 0 mg/kg feed and highest
weight gain 10.03  0.33 g for 60 mg/kg feed, but highest level of vitamin C was 80mg/kg feed. In
this study the highest weight gain is 25.05  1.61 g for treatment 4.
Table III. Effect of vitamin C on growth performance, feed utilization and survival of GIFT reared in
cistern for 70 days

Variable Treatment 1 Treatment 2 Treatment 3 Treatment 4 Level

parameters of sign.
Initial weight (g) 5.95 (± 0.07) 5.95 (± 0.07) 5.95 (± 0.07) 5.95 (± 0.07) NS
Final weight (g) 24.71 (± 26.67 29.28 ( ± 1.46)a 30.94( ± 1.54)a *
0.76)b (±1.01)ab
Weight gain (g) 18.78 (± 20.8 (± 23.33 ( ± 1.33)b 25.05 ( ± *
0.68)b 1.09)ab 1.61)ab
SGR (%/day) 2.03 (±0.02)c 2.16 (±0.08)c 2.27 (±0.05)b 2.32 (±0.03)a *
FCR 1.29 (±0.04) a 1.27 (±0.06) a 1.17 (±0.02) b 1.14 (±0.08) a *
FCE 0.77 (±0.03) a 0.78 (±0.05) a 0.93 (±0.02) a 0.79 (±0.08) a NS
PER 2.85 (±0.12) a 2.90 (±0.19) a 3.23 (±0.08) a 3.25 (±0.33) a NS
Survival rate (%) 95.31 (±0.00)c 97.22 (±0.00)c 97.22(±0.00)c 99.44 (±0.00)c NS
Values given with (±) are standard deviation. The values in the same row having similar letter
(s) do not differ significantly otherwise differ significantly (p<0.005) as per Ducan Multiple Range
Test (DMRT).
The percent weight gain (%) of fish in different treatments ranged from 302.71 to 391.71%
(Table III). The highest percent weight gain (%) was found in T4 followed by T3, T2, and Tı,
respectively. There was significance (p<0.05) variation of percent weight gain between Tı and T 4;
T2 and T4 but no significance variation between T3 and T2; T3 and T4 (Table III). Nsonga et al.
(2009) found that maximum percent weight gain 266 1.11 for 60 mg/kg feed vitamin C and
minimum percent weight gain 27 1.08 for without vitamin C. This different due to the proper
utilization of feed as well as vitamin C and proper water exchange regularly.
The specific growth rate (%/day) ranged from 2.03 to 2.32% /day (Table III). The highest
specific growth rate (2.32%/day) was found in T 4 followed by T3, T2 and Tı, respectively. There was
40
 Effect of dietary vitamin C on growth and survival of gift Tilapia

significance (p<0.05) variation of Specific growth rate between Tı and T4; T2 and T4 but no
significance variation between T3 and T2; T3 and T4 (Table III).
Mean food conversion ratio (FCR) in different treatments ranged from 1.14 to 1.29 (Table III).
The highest FCR was obtained in Tı followed by T2, T3, and T4, respectively. There was no
significant (P≥0.05) variation in mean food conversion ratio (FCR) among the four treatments
(Table III). Tewary and Patra (2008) reported that the food conversion ratio (6.10 ± 0.18) was found
the highest in the control (without vitamin C) while the lowest food conversion ratio (3.43 ± 0.19)
was measured in treatment 2 (1000 mg/kg vitamin C feed). In the present study, fish fed with non-
supplemented vitamin C had poor food conversion ratio (1.27) while fish fed with the supplemented
diet recorded best (1.14) feed conversion ratios. Feed utilization in this study was also affected by
the dietary level of vitamin C. Total amount of feed consumed increased with vitamin C level. Food
conversion ratios was much lower in fish fed with vitamin C supplemented diet than without vitamin
C. This indicates lower protein utilization by the fish. Mean protein efficiency ratio (PER) in different
treatments varied from 2.85 to 3.42 (Table III). The highest protein efficiency ratio (PER) was found
in T3 followed by T4, T2, and Tı, respectively. There was significance (p<0.05) difference between
Tı and T3; T2 and T4 but no significance variation between T4 and T2; T3 and T4; T3 and Tı; Tı and
T2 (Table III). Feed utilization in this study was also affected by the dietary level of vitamin C. Total
amount of feed consumed increased with vitamin C level. Both protein conversion efficiency and
protein efficiency ratio were much lower in fish fed with diet without ascorbic acid. This indicates
lower protein utilization by the fish. Fracalossi et al. (2001) observed a similar trend in juvenile
Oscars (Astronotus ocellatus) cichlids.
Survival rate
The mean survival rate (%) of GIFT under different treatments ranged from 95.31% to 99.44%
(Table III). Significant variation (P<0.05) was found between Tı, and T4; T2 and T4; T2 and T3; T3
and T4 but not significant variations was found between Tı and T2 (Table III). Survival rate was
higher in treatment 4 where the highest vitamin C level (150 mg/kg feed) and lower in treatment 1
(control) where fish reared without vitamin C. Ashraf and Rauf (2008) observed that 70 ± 6.0%
survival rate in treatment 3 where vitamin C level 300 mg/kg feed and lowest in control 30 ± 6.0%
where no vitamin C was supplemented. It was mainly depend on the water quality and DO in the
water. The survival rate also may affected by the handling during the sampling.
CONCLUSION
The result of the present study revealed that the best growth performance and survival rate of GIFT
were obtained with supplementation of 150 mg vitamin C per kg feed. Inclusion level of vitamin C in
diet of this present study was designed on the basis of literature review of some related works in
home and abroad. From the review of literature 100 mg/kg gave the best growth but in this study
we found best result at 150 mg/kg. There is also possibility to get better performance at higher
inclusion level of 150, 200, 250, 300 mg/kg or more vitamin C/kg feed in the diet of GIFT. Hence
further research should be carried out by increasing the inclusion level of vitamin C to find out the
optimum level of vitamin C per kg feed which could be chosen by the fish farmers and feed
manufacturers.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are grateful to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Government of Bangladesh
for funding.
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 M.S. Hossain et al.

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