Effects of <i>Azolla pinnata</i> as a Partial Soybean Meal Substitute on Growth, Carcass Traits, Haemato-Biochemical Parameters, and Tissue Health of Common Carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio</i>)
PAKISTAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, cilt.45, sa.4, ss.2059-2066, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 45 Sayı: 4
- Basım Tarihi: 2025
- Doi Numarası: 10.29261/pakvetj/2025.309
- Dergi Adı: PAKISTAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.2059-2066
- Erciyes Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study evaluated the potential of Azolla pinnata as a partial replacement for soybean meal in carp diets, focusing on growth performance, carcass yield, blood indices, fatty acid composition, and tissue integrity. A total of 600 common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were randomly assigned to three treatments: control, 6% Azolla, and 12% Azolla, each replicated five times. Fish were hand-fed twice daily for 48 days, and growth performance, meat quality, serum biochemistry, and histological parameters were assessed. Results showed that Azolla inclusion had no significant effect on final body weight, weight gain, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio (P>0.05). Fatty acid profiling revealed a notable increase in omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, in Azolla-fed fish. Histological examination indicated normal liver, kidney, pancreas, and muscle structures in the control and 6% groups, whereas mild alterations were detected in the 12% Azolla group. In summary, substituting soybean meal with up to 6% Azolla improved carcass traits, enhanced nutrient deposition, and enriched omega-3 fatty acids without negative health impacts, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable feed component in carp aquaculture.