The Effect of Probiotics on Growth Performance and Body Composition of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

This study evaluated the effects of three types of probiotics, two bacteria and one yeast on growth performance in common carp. Three diets were formulated containing the optimum protein level (40%) for common carp fry; one supplemented at 0.1% with a bacterial mixture containing Streptococcus faecium and Lactobacillus acidophilus; a 2nd supplemented at 0.1% with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisae and 3rd a control diet without supplements. Two additional diets were formulated to contain 27% protein to serve as a stress factor and were supplemented at 0.1% with either the bacterial probiotic mix or the yeast. The diets were fed for 9 weeks to common carp fry stocked in 20 L tanks at two densities; a high density of 20 fry tank(-1) as a stress factor and a low density of 10 fry tank(-1). Results indicate that the fry fed with diets with a probiotics supplement exhibited greater growth than those fed with the control diet. Of the four probiotic treatments, the 40% protein diet supplemented with yeast produced the best growth performance and feed efficiency, suggesting that yeast is an appropriate growth stimulating additive in common carp cultivation.