Wittawat Kaewpoy, Pornpimon Saengchan, Thuchapol Karaket, and Pattareeya Ponza

DOI: 10.14456/sjst-psu.2021.119

pp. 903 - 908

Abstract

Tamarind seed, a by-product of tamarind paste production, contains usable nutrients in the kernel that could induce
immunity in rats. This study aimed to determine the possibility of using tamarind kernel powder in red tilapia feed observing its
effects on fish growth and immunity. A feeding trial was conducted using tilapia fingerlings fed with 1, 2.5 and 5% tamarind
kernel powder (TKP) inclusion in feed for eight weeks. A control group were fed with diet without TKP. The average initial
weights of the red tilapia ranged from 4.73 ± 0.10 to 4.87 ± 0.23 g/fish (P>0.05). Growth parameters were monitored during the
feed trial. At the end of the trial, lysozyme activity was determined, and fish were subjected to a pathogen challenge by
intraperitoneally injecting them with 1.6 x 10⁸ CFU Aeromonas hydrophila. Results showed that the fish reached 29.07 ± 2.96 to
30.77 ± 2.05 g/fish sizes. The growth parameters (weight gain, ADG, FCR), blood counts, and hematocrit were not significantly
different among the treatments (P>0.05). The lysozyme activity also showed no significant difference among the treatments (21-
28 units/milliliter). Fish mortality rate post-challenge with pathogen was not significantly different between control and
treatments (P>0.05). The results showed that 5% tamarind kernel powder could be included as a binding agent in feed without
affecting growth of tilapia during the nursery stage.