Background: The present study aimed to determine the growth, digestibility co-efficient, digestive enzyme activity and disease resistance of juvenile GIFT tilapia fed with Ulva seaweed meal supplemented diet.

Methods: The study was undertaken with different inclusion levels of Ulva seaweed meal (USM) such as raw (UR) and fermented (UF) Ulva meal (UR-5, UR-10, UR-15, UF-5, UF-10 and UF-15% of diet) and control feed (C) for a period of 60 days.

Result: GIFT fed with fermented Ulva meal at a 10% inclusion level in their diet exhibited the highest growth performance (41.43 g) followed by UF5 (41.07&plusmn;0.43 g), UR5 (39.65&plusmn;0.36 g), control (39.09&plusmn;0.20 g), UF15 (38.67&plusmn;0.26 g), UR10 (38.47&plusmn;1.47 g) and UR15 (35.77&plusmn;0.35 g) diet. The Highest Apparent Digestibility Coefficient (ADC) for Crude Protein (85.14&plusmn;0.91%) was observed in fishes fed with fermented Ulva meal at a 10% inclusion rate than other treatments and the control groups for Dry Matter, Ether Extract, and Gross Energy. The enzymatic activities of digestive enzymes, namely Amylase activity (0.029&plusmn;0.00 units/mg protein/min), Protease activity (0.147&plusmn;0.0 units/mgprotein/min) and Lipase activity (0.273&plusmn;0.05 units/mg protein/min), showed higher levels in the group of fishes fed with a diet containing 10% fermented Ulva meal, as compared to the other treatment groups and the control. Increased survival rate (86.66%) was observed when the fishes were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila at the end of the trial for Ulva based diets. The results obtained on histopathology showed the presence of lower degree levels of infection in 10% fermented Ulva meal supplementation.The present study concluded that dietary Ulva meal requirement for juvenile GIFT tilapia can be at 10% of Ulva Fermented (UF) and UF-5, Ulva Raw (UR) 5%, control (C), UF-15, UR-10 and UR-15 diet respectively.

<div>Effect of Dietary Seaweed Supplementation on Growth, Feed Utilization, Digestibility Co-efficient, Digestive Enzyme Activity and Challenge Study against Aeromonas hydrophila of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus</div>

Background: The present study aimed to determine the immune and stress responses of juvenile GIF tilapia fed with Ulva seaweed meal supplemented diet.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study was undertaken with different inclusion levels of Ulva seaweed meal (USM) such as raw (UR) and fermented (UF) Ulva meal (UR-5, UR-10, UR-15, UF-5, UF-10 and UF-15 % of diet) and control feed (C) for a period of 60 days.&nbsp; 
 
Result: GIF tilapia fed with fermented Ulva meal at a 10% inclusion level in their diet showed the highest growth (41.43 g). Immune parameters such as catalase activity (CAT), super oxide dismutase (SOD), respiratory burst activity (RBA), myeloperoxidase activity (MPA) and serum protein value (SPV) showed significant increases in fish fed with Ulva meal incorporated diet followed by UF-5, Ulva Raw (UR) 5%, control (C), UF-15, UR-10 and UR-15 diet respectively. Decreased glucose level was recorded in GIFT fed with fermented Ulva meal at 10% inclusion level followed by UF5, UR5, control diet, UF15, UR10 and UR15 diet. Increased plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, GPx activity, GRA activity and GST activity were recorded in GIFT tilapia fed with fermented Ulva meal at 10% inclusion level followed by UF5 diet, UR5 diet, control diet, UF15 diet, UR10 diet and UR15 diet. GIFT fed with fermented Ulva meal at a 10% inclusion level in their diet exhibited the highest growth performance (41.43 g) followed by UF5 (41.07&plusmn;0.43 g), UR5 (39.65&plusmn;0.36 g), control (39.09&plusmn;0.20 g), UF15 (38.67&plusmn;0.26 g), UR10 (38.47&plusmn;1.47 g) and UR15 (35.77&plusmn;0.35 g) diet. GIF tilapia fed with UF10 diet showed lowest FCR (1.34&plusmn;0.00), highest SGR (0.99&plusmn;0.00) and PER (2.37&plusmn;0.07) followed by UF5 diet, UR5 diet, control diet, UF15 diet, UR10 diet and UR15 diet. One-way ANOVA data analysis and followed by Tukey&rsquo;s test for conducting pair wise comparisons at significance level of 0.05. GIFT tilapia fingerlings had significant differences (P&lt;0.05) among the different experimental diets. From the present experiment, it could be concluded that, Ulva meal incorporation at 10% in the diets increases immune responses in GIF tilapia.

Effect of Dietary Seaweed Supplementation on Growth, Feed Utilization, Digestibility Co-efficient, Digestive Enzyme Activity and Challenge Study against Aeromonas hydrophila of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

Effect of Dietary Seaweed Supplementation on Physiological Responses of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia