Comparison of the use of taurine in combination with feed and sprays in growth and feeding performance and physiological responses of Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer)

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of adding taurine to diet as a mixture with feed and also as spray on growth and feeding performance, body composition and physiological responses of Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer (13.62 ± 0.2 g). This study was carried out in a completely randomized design as three treatments with triplicates. Fish were fed with feed containing 0 (control group), 10 g/kg taurine in feed as mixture (treatment M) and 10 g/kg as spray on feed (treatment S) for 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment, final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio were significantly higher in treatment S compared to the control and treatment M (p < 0.05). Carcass fat and moisture contents significantly varied in treatment M with the control and with treatment S (p < 0.05). However, carcass protein value was not influenced by supplemented tuarine (p>0.05). The obtained results indicated that dietary taurine did not enhance Asian sea bass blood biochemical factors and non-specific immune response (p>0.05). Overall, it can be concluded that feeding Asian sea bass with the diet supplemented by 10 g taurine as spray for a period of 6 weeks enhances the growth and feeding performance.