Diet supplemented with nettle Urtica dioica and tarragon Artemisia dracunculus leaf powder on fingerling rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss was assessed. Fish of initial body weight 7.41 ± 0.16 g, were distributed in six groups, three replications, and were fed 8 weeks. 0 (control), 10 nettle (N1), 30 nettle (N3), 10 tarragon (T1), 30 tarragon (T3) and 10 nettle +10 tarragon g/kg (N1+T1) diet. The N3 improved FBW, WG, WG% and SGR significantly (p ≤ 0.05). N3 increased body protein, ash and decreased body fat significantly (p ≤ 0.05). The highest haematocrit was observed in T3 significantly (p ≤ 0.05). The highest WBC in T3, and RBC and Hb in N1+T1 were observed (p ≤ 0.05). N1 and N1+T1 showed the highest MCV (p ≤ 0.05). N1, T1 and N1+T1 showed the highest MCH (p ≤ 0.05). The highest MCHC was observed in T1 significantly (p ≤ 0.05). N3, T3 and N1+T1 demonstrated the highest albumin levels (p ≤ 0.05). The T1 increased serum lysozyme activity compared to control (p ≤ 0.05). The highest serum total immunoglobulin and total protein in N3 were observed (p ≤ 0.05). The results showed beneficial effects of N3, T3 and N1+T1 on growth performance, body proximate composition and blood parameters.
is the preferable source of protein for reared carnivorous fish owing to its well-adjusted amino acid profile, digestibility and high palatability, superior levels of essential n-3 fatty acids, minerals, phospholipids and nucleotides, and free of anti-nutrient factors (ANFs) (Gatlin et al., 2007;Hardy, 2010; Hosseini Shekarabi et al., 2020). Nowadays, dwindling natural stocks of pelagic fish as a source of FM and its fast-growing demands in aquafeeds is accompanied by a significant increase in FM prices globally. Principal issues recently weighted the urgency to replace FM with plant feedstuffs in aquafeeds on fish/shellfish nourishment (NRC, 2011;Watson et al., 2014). Soybean meal (SBM) is introduced as an easily accessible, affordable and nutritious food with high protein levels and suitable amino acids (Gatlin et al., 2007). Due to the presence of ANFs factors (phytic acid, protease inhibitors, glycinin, β-conglycinin, raffinose and stachyose) in SBM, which leads to intestinal enteritis in monogastric (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and agastric fish (Carassius auratus), the amount of replacement with FM is limited (Hardy, 2010;
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