Effect of Dietary L-carnitine on Growth and Reproductive Performance of Male Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters)

Abstract

Cultured male tilapia was fed diets supplemented with various levels of L-camitine for 252 days and its growth and reproductive performance were evaluated. Carnitine administration produced growth enhancement, increasing with dosage. Carnitine stimulated feed conversion efficiency, better digestibility and high enzyme activity. The RNA-DNA and protein contents in the muscle and liver also increased concomitant with high growth rate. Carnitine induced lipid catabolism leading to reduction in lipid content of cultured fish, using lipid as energy source while sparing protein for anabolic processes. Significantly high GSI, sperm cell concentration, motility and percentage viability of the spermatozoa in carnitine treated tilapia were observed.