The price of traditional sources of nutrients used in animal feed rations is increasing steeply in developed countries due to their scarcity, high demand from humans for the same food items, and expensive costs of raw materials. Thus, one of the alternative sources is coconut parts or coconut as a whole fruit. Coconut is known as the ‘tree of abundance’, ‘tree of heaven’, and ‘tree of life’ owing to its numerous uses, becoming a very important tree in tropical areas for its provision of food, employment, and business opportunities to millions of people. Coconut contains a rich profile of macro and micronutrients that vary depending on the parts and how they are used. It is frequently chosen as an alternative source of protein and fiber. Its uses as an antibacterial agent, immunomodulant, and antioxidant further increase its importance. Using coconut oil in ruminant feed helps to minimize methane gas emissions by 18–30%, and to reduce dry matter intake up to 4.2 kg/d. The aquaculture sectors also use coconut palm as an alternative source because it significantly improves the digestion, growth, lipid metabolism, health, and antioxidative responses. However, coconut is not widely used in poultry diets although it has adequate amount of protein and carbohydrate due to anti-nutritional factors such cellulose (13%), galactomannan (61%), and mannan (26%). This review considered the importance and potential of coconut usage as an alternative ingredient in feed and supplements in various livestock sectors as it has plentiful nutrients and functional qualities, simultaneously leading to reduced feed cost and enhanced production.

The study revealed the potential of fermented soybean meal (FSBM) as a fish meal (FM) replacement in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) feed formulation. Five isonitrogenous diets (32% crude protein) were prepared with five different levels of FSBM as FM replacement, namely 0% FSBM (T1), 40% FSBM (T2), 50% FSBM (T3), 60% FSBM (T4), and 70% (T5). The experimental fish was given the formulated diet for eight consecutive weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, the fish were subjected to growth performance, blood parameters, blood chemical, liver histology, and gut microbiota assessment. The study findings demonstrated that the experimental fish that received the T2 diet exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) growth performance. Experimental fish that received diet T2 had significantly higher (p < 0.05) white blood cell (WBC) and significantly lower (p < 0.05) in terms of cholesterol (CHOL), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLOB), and total protein (TP). The replacement of FSBM to FM significantly affected liver morphology on the sinusoid, vacuole, nucleus, and erythrocytes. Gut microbiota composition analysis showed a significantly high abundance (p < 0.05) of Akkermansia muciniphila in the experimental fish that received the T2 diet. The gut microbiota indicates that the experimental fish is in a healthy condition. In conclusion, replacing 40% FSBM with FM in aquafeed could enhance C. gariepinus growth performance and health conditions.

Carp farming is a popular aquaculture activity that provides affordable protein sources and job opportunities to many people worldwide. As carp farming intensifies, farmers face major issues such as rising feed costs and excessive antibiotic usage. Thus, there is an urgent need to explore alternative resources to ensure the sustainability of the carp farming industry. One of the most promising resources is phytobiotics that possess various properties beneficial for carp production. Furthermore, most phytobiotics are derived from agricultural waste that is abundant and cheap, but some phytobiotics are produced commercially and available in the market. The main topics of this review are highlighted sources, characteristics of phytobiotics, and the usefulness of phytobiotics in improving growth performance, feed utilization efficiency, antioxidant activity, and health of carps against diseases. Furthermore, in this review, recent methods of administration of phytobiotics such as through feeding, bathing, and intraperitoneal injection in carp farming are also discussed and summarised.

The world is witnessing a serious challenge of poverty which is reflected as hidden hunger and simultaneously overpopulation puts a grave burden on our eco

Macrobrachium rosenbergii can be found in northwest India’s freshwater to Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, and Northern Australia. Nowadays, it becomes the most commercially crucial freshwater crustacean species cultured in many countries in the Asia region and beyond its natural distribution. On the other hand, feed additives are one of the feed ingredients that significantly improve the immune system, enhance the ingestion of feed, stress resistance, and reproduction. There are also many challenges in feed additives, i.e., high price, water-soluble, food safety, environmental issue, and the ban of nutritive antibiotics. Intensified research is devoted to exploiting natural products such as herbs in developing herbal feed additives to enhance cultured aquatic species’ performance. Herbs are cheap, safe, effective, easily prepared, biodegradable resources, and a high potential for mass production. Herbs contain many beneficial ingredients that can help as a growth promoter and immunostimulants for animals. However, herbal plants’ application to the animal must be in the right dosage to prevent toxicity. This review discusses the findings from different studies related to the in-vitro and in-vivo applications of herbs as a growth promoter, antimicrobial, and immunostimulant agent besides its opportunity and limitations in applying herbs focusing on M. rosenbergii culture.

Macrobrachium rosenbergii or also known as Giant Freshwater Prawn is crustacean species that can naturally be found in Malaysia. Previous studies were carried out on developing alternative feed for M. rosenbergii larvae in order to lower the feed cost and improve growth rate. This project proposed to analyze the nutrition value of M. rosenbergii larvae formulated feed using 40% of egg custard, 3% of eggshells, 1% of Curcuma longa (Turmeric) and 17.5% of Moringa oleifera. There were 13 different feed formulations by using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in Design Expert Software version 10 which M. oleifera and C. longa were the variables coded while egg custard and eggshells were the based feed of the formulation. Proximate analysis has been conducted to observe the nutrition composition of the formulated feed and compared with the nutrient requirement of M. rosenbergii larvae which were protein, lipid, mineral and carbohydrates requirement. The result by Design Expert Software version 10 revealed that M. oleifera and C. longa gave the significant effect to protein and mineral requirement but not to lipid and carbohydrate requirement. The software also suggested the optimize formulation that near to the nutrient requirement of M. rosenbergii was Formulation 9, suggested percentage of 17.10%M. oleifera and 1% C. longa with 0.738 desirability.