Investigating the effects of date palm extract on growth performance and mucus immune parameters in Common Carp Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758 fingerlings

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of date palm fruit extracts (DPFE) on growth performance, feed utilization and skin mucosal immunity of common carp fingerling. The sampled carp fingerlings (4.06±0.13 g) were supplied and randomly allocated in 6 tanks at density of 20 fish per tank in triplicate groups. The sampled fish were fed with experimental diets supplemented with 0 (control) or 200 ml kg-1 DPFE for 8 weeks (2 treatments with 3 replicates) for 8 weeks. At the end of feeding trial (8 weeks), growth performance and feed utilization parameters (final weight, Specific Growth Rate [SGR], Food Conversion Ration [FCR]) as well as skin mucus immune parameters (total immunoglobulin levels, lysozyme, protease and alkaline phosphatase activity) were measured. The results showed that dietary DPFE remarkably increased growth performance parameters and decreased FCR compared to the control group (p