The effect of dietary herbal powder (superliv^®) on growth and body composition
was investigated in Oreochromis niloticus.
Fingerlings of about 5.24 ± 0.60 g were fed diets supplemented with four
concentrations (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 g kg⁻¹) of herbal powder for
eight weeks. Survival, specific growth rate, feed efficiency, proximate
composition and haematological parameters were higher in fish given herbal
diets than fish given the control diet without herbs. The highest specific growth rate (1.33 ± 0.03 % day^–1) and
best food conversion ratio (0.85 ± 0.03) were obtained in the 10 g kg⁻¹ herb
meal diet treatment. Protein efficiency ratio and feed efficiency were higher
in fish fed with herbs and lowest in the control. No differences occurred in
fish carcass protein or ash content among the treatments (p > 0.05). These
results reveal that medicinal herbs in diets enhance growth, feed utilisation and survival of O. niloticus fingerlings.