Rearing of Hypselobarbus pulchellus on Moringa Leaf Meal Incorporated Diets: Effect on Growth, Carcass Composition, and Digestion

The present study was conducted with the objective of elucidating the optimum dietary incorporation level of moringa leaf meal in the feed for Hypselobarbus pulchellus, a critically endangered peninsular carp. Two growth studies were conducted in out-door, soil-based cement tanks for 90 days, with diets having graded levels of moringa leaf meal (MLM). In the first study, the fry was fed with sinking pellets having MLM at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30% levels. The study revealed that no diet was inferior to control in terms of final weight, length, condition factor, and survival. However, fish fed 10 and 15% MLM diets were superior to control in terms of final weight. In the second study, fingerlings were fed diets having MLM at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% levels. No significant difference in final length, weight, survival, and condition factor was recorded between different treatments. While no difference in carcass moisture and crude protein levels was observed between different treatments up to 15% MLM incorporation, 20% MLM treatment resulted in higher moisture and lower crude protein in the fish carcass. Carcass fat was reduced by moringa feeding, with the lowest value under 20% feeding. While the activity of total protease and lipase did not differ significantly among the treatments, that of amylase was higher in 0 and 5% MLM fed fish. The study indicated that MLM can be incorporated in the diet safely up to 30% for spawn to fry rearing and 15% level for grow-out rearing. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The National Academy of Sciences, India 2024.