Evaluating Moringa Leaf Meal for Sustainable and Cost-Effective Fish Meal Substitution

Abstract

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector globally, yet it remains heavily dependent on fish meal-based feeds. Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaves, rich in protein, essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, have emerged as a promising substitute for fish meal. This study evaluated the efficacy of Moringa Leaf Meal (MLM) as a partial fish meal (FM) replacement in diets for rohu (Labeo rohita) fingerlings under controlled laboratory conditions at the Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. A 60-day feeding trial was conducted using three dietary treatments: T1 (Control, 0% MLM), T2 (10% MLM), and T3 (20% MLM), with three replicates per treatment. Rohu fingerlings (11.47 ± 2.0 g) were stocked in nine 90 L plastic drums, maintained with daily 25% water exchange and continuous aeration. Fish were fed experimental diets at 5% body weight twice daily, and growth performance, water quality parameters, and feed cost were monitored throughout the study. All treatments achieved 100% survival. Growth performance, measured as mean length and weight gain, was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in fish fed T2 and T3 diets compared to the control, with T2 exhibiting the best overall performance. Proximate composition analysis revealed higher crude protein and lipid content but lower ash and fiber content in rohu fingerlings with increasing MLM inclusion. Feed cost analysis showed that T3 had the lowest feed cost, while T1 was the most expensive. These findings suggest that incorporating 10% Moringa Leaf Meal in rohu diets is a cost-effective and sustainable strategy that enhances growth performance without compromising fish health or welfare.