Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

---

A 30-day experiment was carried out to comparison the effect of carrot and beetroot as natural pigments and synthetic astaxanthin on growth performance, hematological parameters, and tissue color in rainbow trout fingerlings. 150 juvenile rainbow trout with initial mean weight of 21.44 ± 1.25g fed diets containing 50 and 100 mg/kg carrot; 100 mg/kg beetroot; 100 mg/kg synthetic astaxanthin and a control diet. Body weight increasing and specific growth rate were higher in fish fed the diet containing 100 mg beetroot than those of the control diet. Hematological study including red blood cell, white blood cell, hematocrit and hemoglobin showed significant differences between treatments (p<0.05). Carrot and beetroot had higher values of red blood cell, white blood cell, hematocrit and hemoglobin than those of the synthetic astaxanthin and control diet. Triglyceride and cholesterol value were significantly higher in diet containing 100 mg beet (p<0.05). Carotenoid content analysis from skin, tissue and blood revealed that inclusion of plant source of carotenoid including carrot and beetroot resulted in a significant increase in carotenoid concentration (p<0.05). The study concluded that plant source of carotenoid such as carrot and beetroot could improve immune systems in rainbow trout by increasing white and red blood cells and also, fish fed diet supplemented with natural carotenoid (carrot and beet) showed better coloration.

Keywords: Rainbow trout, Pigments, Blood and growth indices, Carotenoid

Full-Text [PDF 816 kb]   (4345 Downloads)