Effect of dietary GroBiotic®‐A supplementation as a prebiotic on the intestinal microflora, growth performance, haemato‐serological parameters, survival rate and body composition in juvenile beluga (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1754)

The objectives of the present study were to investigate of GroBiotic®‐A (GBA) on growth, autochthonous intestinal microbiota and haemato‐serological parameters of beluga juvenile. A total of 180 fish (40.82 ± 5.81 g) were fed diets containing graded levels of GBA (0, 5, 10 and 20 g kg−1 diet) for 8 weeks. No significantly differences in body composition, total viable aerobic bacteria, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, albumin, glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase were detected between treatment groups. The fish fed on 10 and 20 g kg−1 GBA significantly showed higher lactic acid bacteria, final weight, body weight increases, weight gain and lower feed conversion ratio compared with the control and 5 g kg−1 groups. The group fed 20 g kg−1 GBA showed a highly significant difference in condition factor, survival rate, final length, total red and white blood cells, lymphocytes, haematocrit, haemoglobin, total protein, total immunoglobulin and lysozyme activity. The specific growth rate of the treatment groups was significantly elevated compared with the control groups. These results indicated that GBA at level 20 g kg−1 improved growth, welfare and survival of beluga juvenile.