COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF TRIGONELLA FOENUM GRAECUM AS A FUNCTIONAL AQUAFEED ADDITIVE ON GROWTH, BLOOD PARAMETERS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL HEALTH OF CYPRINIDS

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) as a functional feed additive on growth performance, hematological parameters, and antioxidant defense system of selected cyprinid fishes, including Labeo rohita, Catla catla, Ctenopharyngodon idella, and Labeo calbasu. Experimental diets were formulated with graded levels of fenugreek supplementation (0%, 1%, 2%, and 3%) and fed to fish under controlled laboratory conditions. Results indicated that fenugreek supplementation significantly improved growth performance, with the highest weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) observed at 2% inclusion level (T2) across all species. Hematological parameters, including red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), and packed cell volume (PCV), were also significantly enhanced in fenugreek treated groups, indicating improved physiological and immune status. Furthermore, antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly increased, while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were reduced, suggesting improved antioxidant defense and reduced oxidative stress. However, at the highest inclusion level (3%), a slight decline or plateau in some parameters was observed, indicating that excessive supplementation may reduce biological efficiency. This study concludes that fenugreek is an effective natural feed additive for enhancing growth, hematology, and antioxidant status in cyprinid fishes, with an optimal dietary inclusion level of approximately 2%.