Effects of Diet Supplemented with Morinda citrifolia Fermented Extract on the Growth Performance and Feed Conversion Ratio of Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract

The use of additives in feeds to promote the growth of farmed fish has been rapidly expanding; among these are supplements derived from indigenous plants. Here, we analyzed the effects of satiation feeding of diet supplemented with noni (Morinda citrifolia) fermented extract on the feeding rate, growth performance and feed conversion ratio of Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Fish with an initial average weight of 2.83 ± 0.01 g were fed with diets supplemented with noni fermented extract at 0 (control), 100-, 200- and 300-ml kg^-1 for 12 weeks. Subsequent results showed that growth rate was correlated with or dependent on the concentration of noni fermented extract in the diet. The best result for growth performance, such as weight gain, average daily growth rate and specific growth rate, was found in a fish-fed diet supplemented with noni fermented extract at 200 ml kg^-1. However, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) is still higher than the control. The high FCR compared to control may be due to the anthraquinone in noni fermented extract, which decreases nutrient absorption. Fish fed with a 300 ml kg^-1 noni fermented extract supplemented diet was the lowest growth performance and highest in FCR, suggesting that concentrations over 200 ml kg^-1 might be detrimental to fish. Taken together, noni fermented extract can be a natural source of feed supplement to improve fish growth performance and may act as an appetite stimulant. However, due to its laxative effect, noni fermented extract supplementation should be given at appropriate levels and effective feeding management.