Effect of Partial Replacement of Yellow Corn by Pomegranate Peel with or Without Allzyme SSF on Growth Performance and Health Status of Oreochromis niloticus

3 Abstract: The present work was carried out to study the effect of partial replacement of yellow corn by pomegranate peel (as unconventional feedstuff) with and without addition of multienzymatic complex Allzyme SSF (Solid state fermentation) in the diets of Oreochromis niloticus and its effect on growth performance and health status. A total of 300 Oreochromis niloticus with an average body weight of 25.00±1.00 g were used. The fish were randomly divided into 5 equal triplicate groups (Each replicate contained 20 fish). A basal control diet was formulated to fulfil the nutrients requirement of fish according to NRC and contained 30.80% CP and 2940 kcal/kg DE. In other 4 experimental diets yellow corn was partially replaced by pomegranate peel at rate of 5 or 10% with and without addition of Allzyme SSF at rate of 0.02%. The fish were fed isonitrogenous, isocaloric diets 4 times daily at rate of 5% of body weight for 10 weeks. The obtained results revealed that the fish fed diet contained 5% pomegranate peel with Allzyme had a higher final body weight, body gain and body gain % as compared to fish fed other dietary treatments. Some immunological parameters (IgM and lysozyme) were significantly improved due to supplementation of the pomegranate diets with Allzyme. There were no significant variation in different biochemical blood parameters (ALT, AST, creatinine and cortisol) between the control group and other groups while the general antioxidant status was improved due to supplementation of pomegranate diets especially with enzyme with improvement of general health condition, condition factor and survivability in all experimental groups. It could be concluded that pomegranate peel could replace up to 10% of yellow corn in Oreochromis niloticus diets with addition of Allzyme SSF without any adverse effects on growth parameters or health status.