Investigation of the effects of phytogenic dietary additives on growth performance, nutrient utilization, economic efficiency and health of Pangasius hypophthalmus : implications for sustainable aquaculture development

Abstract

Medicinal plants exhibit promising potential for the current needs in aquaculture production which is expected to grow in coming decades to feed a growing population and lead the blue revolution. Medicinal plants are a substitute for phytotherapy in treating fish disease outbreaks and enhance biological and growth performance providing a sustainable alternative to antibiotics and chemicals. A seventy-day trial investigated the active components of herbal extracts in improving fish health, survival, and growth of Thai pangus. Five diets were designed: T1 (Turmeric, 5%), T2 (Garlic, 5%), T3 (aloe vera, 5%), T4 (Mixed, 5%), and a control diet (T5). The fish were fed 30% dietary protein to apparent satiation four times per day. Two thousand individuals were stocked in each tank, with two replicates for each treatment, and an average body weight of 0.2 ± 0.04 g. The physicochemical parameters of tank water remained within the optimum range. The highest final body weight (42.22 ± 0.56), weight gain (42.01 ± 0.82), specific growth rate (7.57 ± 0.02), survival rate (100%) and overall health was observed in T4 with (Mixed, 5%), extract, which was significantly different from the other treatments (p < 0.05), although treatments T1, T2, and T3 also showed improvements compared to the control group, which displayed significant different. The lowest FCR was recorded in T4 (0.8 ± 0.02) which was significantly different compared to other treatment groups (p < 0.05).The T4 enhanced the viscerosomatic index (4.86 ± 0.21) hepatosomatic index (2.16 ± 0.01) and condition factor (0.98 ± 0.05) (p < 0.05). The blood parameters of Pangasius hypophthalmus across all mixed medicinal plant concentration showed significant differences (p < 0.05). The study concludes that medicinal plants are effective nutritional supplements for improving the development and health of P. hypophthalmus under hatchery conditions. They represent a valuable alternative to antibiotics and providing effective, safe, and eco-friendly solutions for sustainable aquaculture.