The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the addition of CLA in the diet on Nile tilapia productive performance, chemical and fatty acids composition. Eighty reversed fish with 109 ± 10 g were used, distributed in eight tanks (0.8 m³ each) in density of ten fishes/tank, during 90 days. It was evaluated the inclusion in the diets of 2% of CLA (Luta-CLA®-BASF, Brazil) with 60% of isomers (cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12) and 40% of vehicle (oleic acid and other fatty acids). As diets, a commercial extruded ration with 29% CP and 3000 kcal DE/kg of ration was used. At the end of the experiment all fishes were used for the evaluation of performance, of chemical composition and profile of fatty acids on liver and fillets. No differences for protein efficiency ratio, carcass yield, hepatosomatic index and visceral fat, were observed with the addition of CLA in the diet. The addition of CLA in the diet improved weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Fishes fed diets with addition of CLA showed an increase in saturated fatty acids composition, reduction in n-6 fatty acids in the fillets and increase in n-3 fatty acids and total polyunsaturated fatty acids composition in the liver. There was an increase of protein in fillets of tilapia fed with rations enriched with CLA. CLA utilization improve productive performance, affect the fatty acids metabolism and pattern in fillets and liver and increase the body protein of Nile tilapia.
feed conversion ratio; liver; fillet; n-3; n-6; weight gain
