Optimization of Dietary Moringa oleifera Leaf Meal as a Fish Meal Substitute for Labeo rohita during the Nursery Phase
Puneet Kumar Patel
Department of Aquaculture, COF, A.N.D.U.A. &T., Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (224 229), India.
Shashank Singh
*
Department of Aquaculture, COF, A.N.D.U.A. &T., Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (224 229), India.
Dinesh Kumar
Department of Aquaculture, COF, A.N.D.U.A. &T., Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (224 229), India.
C. P. Singh
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, COF, A.N.D.U.A. &T., Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (224 229), India.
V. K. Singh
Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Suman Dey
Department of FEES, COF, A.N.D.U.A. &T., Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (224 229), India.
Laxmi Prasad
Department of Aquaculture, COF, D.U.V.A.S.U, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Ajay Kumar Yadav
Department of Aquaculture, COF, A.N.D.U.A. &T., Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (224 229), India.
Lavkush
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, COF, A.N.D.U.A. &T., Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (224 229), India.
Mitrasen Maurya
Department of Aquaculture, COF, A.N.D.U.A. &T., Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (224 229), India.
Pullagura Siva Nagendra
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, COF, A.N.D.U.A. &T., Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (224 229), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The increasing cost and limited availability of fish meal have intensified the search for sustainable plant-based protein sources for aquafeeds. Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) is a promising alternative because of its high protein content and abundance of bioactive compounds. The present study evaluated the effects of graded dietary inclusion of MOLM as a partial replacement for fish meal on the growth performance, feed utilisation, whole-body composition, and haematological responses of Labeo rohita spawn during a 20-day nursery feeding trial. Five isonitrogenous experimental diets containing 0% (Control), 5% (T1), 10% (T2), 15% (T3), and 20% (T4) MOLM were formulated. Fish were randomly allocated to triplicate experimental units and fed the respective diets under controlled environmental conditions. Water quality parameters remained within the optimal range throughout the experimental period and did not differ significantly among treatments (P > 0.05). Dietary supplementation with MOLM significantly influenced growth performance and nutrient utilisation (P < 0.05). Fish fed the T3 diet (15% MOLM) exhibited the highest final weight (315.54 ± 0.92 mg), weight gain (314.11 ± 0.92 mg), and specific growth rate (26.98 ± 0.06% day⁻¹), the lowest feed conversion ratio (1.36 ± 0.02), the highest protein efficiency ratio (1.72 ± 0.03), and the greatest survival (62.67 ± 2.33%). Whole-body protein (18.50 ± 0.12%), lipid (4.67 ± 0.12%), and ash (4.07 ± 0.03%) contents were also significantly enhanced in the T3 group. Furthermore, dietary inclusion of 15% MOLM significantly improved haematological indices, including haemoglobin concentration (5.50 g/dL), red blood cell count (0.98 ± 0.14 × 10⁶/mm³), and packed cell volume, indicating an enhanced physiological condition and oxygen-carrying capacity. In contrast, the highest inclusion level (20%) adversely affected growth performance and blood parameters, likely because increased dietary fibre and anti-nutritional factors reduced nutrient utilisation. The findings demonstrate that replacing fish meal with 15% M. oleifera leaf meal effectively enhances the growth, feed efficiency, body composition, and haematological health of L. rohita spawn without compromising water quality. Therefore, MOLM can serve as a sustainable and economical plant protein source for nursery diets, contributing to environmentally responsible and cost-effective carp aquaculture.
Keywords: Aquafeed, fish meal replacement, growth performance, haematology, Labeo rohita, Moringa oleifera, nursery phase, nutrient utilisation, plant protein, whole-body composition