article · Aquaculture Research
Adding Tribulus terrestris extract to the diet of male Nile tilapia enhances both growth performance and reproductive capabilities. In a forty-five-day feeding trial comparing standard feed, the synthetic hormone 17alpha-methyl testosterone, and three dosages of Tribulus terrestris, fish receiving the botanical extract achieved superior body weight, weight gain, feed conversion, and specific growth rates. Testes weight, gonadosomatic index, haemoglobin levels, and red blood cell counts were also significantly enhanced compared to control and hormone-treated groups. Furthermore, fish fed the highest extract doses developed higher concentrations of testosterone and 11-keto testosterone, alongside improved sperm vitality, sperm concentration, and enlarged seminiferous tubules filled with free sperm. Dietary inclusion of the extract at 500 and 750 milligrams per kilogram of feed improves overall growth, physical condition, and reproductive efficiency in male Nile tilapia without degrading water quality.
Tilapia farming relies heavily on rapid growth and effective broodstock management. Synthetic hormones are widely used to manage reproduction but present potential environmental and handling concerns. Demonstrating that a plant extract such as Tribulus terrestris can outperform synthetic testosterone in boosting male growth, blood health, and semen quality provides hatcheries with an effective, natural dietary strategy that also maintains rearing water quality.
This research provides an applied, tested intervention relevant to aquaculture feed manufacturers and tilapia hatchery operators seeking natural broodstock enhancers. Tribulus terrestris extract represents a functional feed additive to support male maturation and growth. Because the findings derive from a controlled trial on seventy-five fish over forty-five days, the technology remains at an early testing stage, requiring scaled commercial trials, economic assessments, and feed safety clearances before industrial adoption.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Effects of dietary supplementation of Tribulus terrestris (TT) and 17α-methyl testosterone (MT) on growth performance and reproductive efficiency of male Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (N = 75, initial weight 60 ± 3.251 g), were evaluated. Five experimental treatments in triplicate were fed on basal diet (30% crude protein) (control group, CG), basal diet containing 60 mg MT (MT group) and basal diet containing 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg diet TT (TT250, TT500 and TT750 groups), respectively, for consecutive 45 days. Results revealed that the fish received TT in diet showed better growth performance (final body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, testes weight and gonadosomatic index) compared with MT and CG (p < .05), as well as for haemoglobin content and red blood cell count (p < .05). The highest level of testosterone, 11-keto testosterone, sperm concentration and vitality was recorded in TT750 followed by TT500, TT250 and MT groups, while the lowest value was recorded in the CG (p < .05). The highest seminiferous tubule diameter was recorded in TT750 followed by TT500, TT250 and CG, while the lowest diameter was recorded in the MT group (p < .05). Fish received TT showed normal dilated seminiferous tubule filled with large amount of free sperms within their lumen in a dose related effect. In conclusion, male Nile tilapia dietary supplementation with different inclusions of Tribulus terrestris extract specially 500 and 750 mg/kg diet improves growth performance, health condition, semen quality and reproductive efficiency without any harmful effect on water quality.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1111/are.14767
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
