ISSUE FOCUS 54 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2024 These results highlight the benefits of beneficial bacterial strains that multiply in the gastrointestinal system, aiding food absorption and digestion through the use of epithelial cells. The potential significance of probiotics could be associated with their role in improving feed intake. It has been demonstrated that Bacillus species increase the total protein content of Nile tilapia, which is consistent with our findings. Probiotics, therefore, enhance intestinal immune responses against infections and increase the total protein content in fish meal. LOWER MORTALITY RATES One of the critical outcomes of this study was the reduction in mortality rates among the tilapia fingerlings (Figure 2). While tilapia is generally more resistant to bacterial, parasitic, fungal, and viral diseases compared to other cultured fish species, intensive farming practices have increased their susceptibility to various diseases. Among these, streptococcal infection caused by Streptococcus sp. is particularly significant, leading to mass mortality and substantial economic losses in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). In our research, the groups treated with Fortcell Feed Aquaculture probiotics experienced significantly lower mortality rates compared to the control and commercial product groups. This indicates that Fortcell Feed Aquaculture probiotics not only promote growth but also enhance the overall health and resilience of the fish. This can be attributed to the Bacillus species, which exhibit potential antimicrobial activities and an immunostimulant effect. Beneficial microbes that dominate the gut microbiome also help lessen the detrimental effects of pathogenic microorganisms on gut immunity. IMPROVED WATER QUALITY In addition to the traditional focus on efficiency and profitability, today's customer is increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their farming operations. They are actively in search of sustainable practices and feed options that can reduce their carbon footprint. These discerning customers closely monitor market trends and respond to evolving consumer preferences, tailoring their feed choices accordingly. The study also highlighted the positive impact of probiotics on water quality. Key parameters such as pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen levels remained within optimal ranges in the ponds treated with probiotics (Table 1). Additionally, the levels of harmful nitrogen compounds (NO2 and NH3) were lower, and 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Survival Rates Tilapia (%) 70 64 68 40 46 Batch 1 (FF Aquaculture) Batch 2 (FF Aquaculture) Batch 3 (FF Aquaculture) Batch 4 (Control) Batch 5 (Commercial product) Figure 2. Survival rates of tilapia fingerling cultured in systems with addition of probiotics EVALUATION T (°C) O2 (mg/L) O2 Dis % Sat. pH N (mg/L) NO2 (mg/L) NH3 (mg/L) NH4 (mg/L) Probiotics Control Commercial product 27.73 27.9 28 7.52 5.68 6.22 87.5 72.53 77.55 7.83 7.787 7.897 0.007 0.19 0.357 0.023 0.62 1.183 0.03 0.26 0.09 0.03 0.27 0.1 Table 1. Water quality parameters during the culture of tilapia fingerling
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==