Abstract

This work aimed to study the effect of direct injection of shark (Squalus acanthias L.) DNA into skeletal muscles of red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) fed at different additive levels (two probiotic levels; 0.3 and 0.5%, two amino yeast levels; 0.5 and 1.0% and a mixed of 0.3% probiotic and 0.5% amino yeast), on the productive performance. The results show that red tilapia injected with DNA had significant (P≤0.05) superiority of growth performance and feed utilization; besides the body composition was improved. In addition, the different levels of probiotic and amino yeast were more effective in stimulating most of the productive performance traits compared to the control group and the mixed of probiotic and amino yeast. The result indicates a possible easy and rapid way for improving red tilapia characteristics.

Key words: red tilapia, shark DNA, direct injection, productive performance, probiotic, amino yeast.