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Sodium Diformate on the Growth Performance of Male Nile Tilapia

Effect of Dietary Sodium Diformate on the Growth Performance of Male Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

Published: December 7, 2011
By: M. L. A. Cuvin-Aralar (Southeast Aian Fisheries Development Center), Christian Lückstädt, Karsten Schroeder and Kai-J. Kühlmann (ADDCON)
Introduction
Although antibiotic growth promoters in the diets of fish may promote growth and improve feed conversion and survival rates, public concern over cross-resistance to humans led to a ban on the use of such substances in the EU. Research has thus turned to other feed additives to maintain performance and high survival rates in aquaculture. Organic acids and their salts are seen as an alternative to using antibiotics as growth promoters (Lückstädt (2006), but their use in aquaculture is comparatively new compared to livestock and poultry feeds. Research in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar showed the beneficial effect of potassium diformate (KDF) on performance parameters (Christiansen and Lückstädt, 2008). Studies with hybrid tilapia have shown that fish given 0.3 and 0.6% KDF had significantly better growth than those given antibiotics (Zhou et al, 2009). This was confirmed by Cuvin-Aralar et al. (2010) who showed significantly better growth, growth rate and FCR in juvenile Nile tilapia given diets supplemented with 0.3% KDF compared to control diets. Limited data are available as to the effect of sodium diformate (NDF) on growth and FCR in Nile tilapia.
Material and methods
Twenty-five male Nile tilapia (mean weight 16.5 ± 3.2 g) were stocked in each of eight 240 l polyethylene tanks in a static-renewal system. The fish in four randomly selected tanks were given commercially formulated feed (CON) while the others received commercially formulated diets supplemented with 0.3% sodium diformate (NDF). Fish in both the CONTROL and NDF treatment were fed a daily ration equivalent to 5% of their body weight for the first two weeks; reduced to 3% until the sixth week and 2% until the end of the feeding trial. Feed was dispensed three times a day at 0800, 1200, 1600h. The fish were weighed every week to monitor growth and adjust feed ration. Eighty percent of the water was changed every 3 days, an hour after the morning ration was dispensed. Water quality (dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH and ammonia) was monitored prior to water replacement. The experimental ran for 78 days. Analysis of Variance using SAS (Cary, NC, USA) was used for statistical analyses with P<0.05.
Results
Water quality parameters were within the acceptable range for Nile tilapia growth. Mean dissolved oxygen was 6.1±0.4 mg l-1, temperature was 29.1±3.5, pH was 6.7±0.9 and ammonia (NH3-N) was <0.02. Effect of the treatment with the dietary acidifier on the growth of Nile tilapia was visible throughout the trial period. Nile tilapia fed NDF clearly tended to grow better compared to the CONTROL. ANOVA comparison of the mean weights achieved by the two groups on the final day of the experiment (day 78) showed a P-value of 0.055. Nile tilapia given the NDF supplement had higher mean weights (66.20±4.15g) compared to those given the CONTROL feed (58.74±4.71g). Specific growth rates (SGR) tended to be better in fish fed the NDF-supplemented diet (2.73±0.08) compared to controls (2.58±0.11) at the end of the experiment (P=0.057). Only numerical differences in survival of the fish in both groups were observed, but the bulk weight of fish in the NDF-fed group was significantly higher (1621±73g) compared to controls (1396±152g; P=0.038). Final feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly improved for the tilapia fed the NDF diet. FCR was 0.69±0.05 for the tilapia fed NDF supplemented feed, compared to 0.77±0.02 for the control group. Finally, the Fish Productivity Index FPI was significantly increased due to inclusion of NDF (Table I).
Table I: Production parameters of Nile tilapia after 78 days of rearing with or without sodium diformate
Parameter
CON
0.3% NDF
P-value
Initial weight [g]
16.5±3.2
16.5±3.2
-
Final weight [g]
58.7±4.7
66.2±4.2
0.06
Survival [%]
95.0±5.0
98.0±2.3
0.32
Bulk weight [g]
1396±152b
1621±73a
0.04
SGR* [%]
2.58±0.11
2.73±0.08
0.06
FCR
0.77±0.02a
0.69±0.05b
0.02
FPI**
525±98b
708±54a
0.02
a, b: Means with a different superscript differ significantly at P<0.05
*SGR = Specific Growth Rate: (ln Final weight [g] - ln Initial weight [g]) / culture period [d] × 100
**FPI = Fish Productivity Index: Weight gain [g] × Survival [%] / (FCR × 10)
Discussion
Addition of 0.3% NDF in the diets of Nile tilapia improved growth and other production parameters significantly. These findings are in line with several other studies testing the effect of diformates in tilapia (Zhou et al, 2009; Cuvin-Aralar et al, 2010). To date, there has been only speculation on the mode of action of organic acid compounds in fish. Liebert et al. (2010) reported improved digestibility, especially of protein. Ng et al. (2009) found significantly reduced fecal bacteria counts in organic acid supplemented fish and similar trends were also observed in gut microflora. These may be among the reasons for improved growth. In terrestrial animals, reduced energy use from the gut microflora has energy sparing effects of up to 6% of the dietary net energy (Jensen, 1998). Organic acids, and especially sodium diformate, are therefore an interesting option to improve performance in tilapia.
References
Christiansen, R. and C. Lückstädt. 2008. Effects of different dosages of potassium diformate in fishmeal on the performance of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar. World Aquaculture Society Conference, Busan, Korea. Abstract-CD-Rom, p. 467.
Cuvin-Aralar M., K.-J. Kühlmann, K. Schroeder and C. Lückstädt. Effect of potassium diformate (KDF) on growth performance of male Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). XIV International Symposium on Fish Nutrition and Feeding, Qingdao, China, Book of Abstracts, p. 187.
Liebert F., K. Mohamed and C. Lückstädt. Effects of diformates on growth and feed utilization of all male Nile Tilapia fingerlings (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in tank culture. XIV International Symposium on Fish Nutrition and Feeding, Qingdao, China, Book of Abstracts, p. 190.
Lückstädt C. 2006. Acidifiers in aqua feeds: A solution for antibiotic-free feeding of fish and shrimp. Aqua Feeds: Formulation &Beyond 3:4-6.
Ng W., C. Koh, K. Sudesh and A. Siti-Zahrah. 2009. Effects of dietary organic acids on growth, nutrient digestibility and gut microflora of red hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis sp., and subsequent survival during a challenge test with Streptococcus agalactiae. Aquaculture Research 40:1490-1500.
Jensen B. 1998. The impact of feed additives on the microbial ecology of the gut in young pigs. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences 7: 4564, Suppl. 1.
Zhou Z., Y. Liu, S. He, P. Shi, X. Gao, B. Yao and E. Ringø. 2009. Effects of dietary potassium diformate (KDF) on growth performance, feed conversion and intestinal bacterial community of hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus x O. aureus). Aquaculture 291:89-94.
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Authors:
Christian Lückstädt
ADDCON
Karsten Schroeder
ADDCON
Kai-Jens Kühlmann
Trouw Nutrition
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Christian Lückstädt
ADDCON
3 de junio de 2014
Dear Mr. Aniebo, as I am not working in the field of probiotics I am not really the right person to ask. Keep in mind that probiotics may not always be heat stable, especially when pelleted or extruded feed is needed. I know that for instance Lallemand or Biomin working with probiotics in aquaculture. It may be best you contact them. Dear Dr. Mahmood, we are working with the diformates in Bangladesh and the product should be available. Please contact me under my e-mail address: christian.lueckstaedt@addcon.com Thanks!
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Christian Lückstädt
ADDCON
2 de junio de 2014

Dear Dr. Velez,
Thank you for your comments. The use of various organic acids or their salts gave continuously a beneficial impact on tilapia. I have monitored many publications on that topic over the last decade. You are right, the stomach pH of a tilapia can be below 2.0 - thus an additionally acidification of the stomach may not be necessary. However, feeding diets with ~30% crude protein will certainly buffer this system and it may take the fish a certain amount of energy as well as time to reduce the pH in the stomach to "normal levels". Here, acidification may support the protein digestion - as this has been reported previously. Furthermore, the growth enhancing effect may come not only from the pH-impact, but also from the bacterial inhibition (reduction of pathogens, energy sparing) as well as the improved mineral availability. But you are right - to date we mostly monitor the impact only (there is a meta-analysis on the impact of potassium diformate in tilapia available), but speculate on the reasons why...

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Christian Lückstädt
ADDCON
9 de abril de 2014
Dear Peyi, currently we are in the final step of registering potassium diformate (brand name Aquaform) in Indonesia, but as you know the registration process is slow... Sodium diformate was developed for the poultry industry and is widely used there, however in a few cases we have tested the molecule in swine and fish as well. I would propose we discuss this issue in a more in-depth way via e-mail. Please send a mail to my account under christian.lueckstaedt@addcon.com Thank you!
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Christian Lückstädt
ADDCON
23 de agosto de 2013
Dear Mr. Akinwale, yes, the diformates have been tested in catfish too - Pangasius, channel catfish as well as clarias - with beneficial results on survival, growth and FCR. Regarding the use of the diformates in Nigerian aquaculture, please contact us at info@addcon.com and we may find a way to test potassium diformate under your circumstances.
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Christian Lückstädt
ADDCON
22 de abril de 2013

Dear Mr. Ediwarman,
Yes, you can use diformates in catfish. We have done so before - with African catfish, as well as with Pangasius. Novindo in Indonesia is not a person. It is a distributing company based in Jakarta. Please contact me under my e-mail address at ADDCON and I can forward Novindo's adress and a responsible person.

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Christian Lückstädt
ADDCON
16 de abril de 2013

Dear Mr. Tendai,
To my understanding livestock manure in aquaculture is used to enhance the growth of natural food, like in extensive or semi-intensive pond systems. So the manure is used to feed the "system" rather than the fish itself. I would expect that bacteria which may be present in the manure will be efficiently diluted in the water, and, if taken up, killed/inactivated in the acidic part of the GIT (stomach). But I am not a microbiologist - you may ask the same question in a different forum...

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Christian Lückstädt
ADDCON
10 de abril de 2013

Dear Peyi,
I am sure you can combine calcium propionate with probiotics in the finished feed for fish. I have however not yet seen regularly that calcium propionate in fish feed would be used to enhance the perfomance. It will be mainly used to avoid microbial spoilage with fungi over storage. Guess the relevant dosages here will vary between 0.1 and 0.4%. But keep in mind... sodium diformate and calcium propionate may belong to the group of organic acid salts; however they are not the same! Calcium propionate has no effect on pH-change, whereas the sodium diformate is able to release formic acid and thus has a strong effect on pH, which will be helpful in high protein aquafeeds. Thus the concept of the two additives is different... Ca-propionate is protecting the feed, while sodium diformate has beneficial impacts in side the GIT of fish.

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Christian Lückstädt
ADDCON
21 de marzo de 2013

Dear Peyi,
We are currently registering the additive in Indonesia. Dossier and samples for testing have handed in to the respective authorities. You may ask our local distributor Novindo for further details.

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Christian Lückstädt
ADDCON
5 de marzo de 2013

Dear Mr. Enyidi,
Yes, the additive can be used in both - juvenile as well as in adult fish. However, as usual with all species in which acidifier has been tested (fish, pig, poultry) the effect on weight ganin as well as feed conversion is greater in juvenile fish.
Keep me updated on your trials.

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Christian Lückstädt
ADDCON
25 de febrero de 2013

Dear Dr. Rodriguez,
As far as I recall we used a regular commercial diet for tilapia from the Philippines. As we needed only a small amount of supplemented diet, the pelleted diets was ground. The crystalline product was mixed in - and the diet was pelleted again, lab scale. Fish in both groups, control and treatment, were given the appropriate feed with a daily ration equivalent to 5 percent of their body weight - and the fish were fed 3 times a day. Let me know whether you would love a sample of the additive. As of now we are working in tilapia culture in Ecuador and Colombia, with some plans to start in Middle-America.

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