Abstract:
Melaleuca cajuputi leaves possessed various medicinal properties which make it a
potentially valuable natural feed additive to the aquaculture industry. Four diets
containing different dosages of M. cajuputi leaves extracts; 0g/kg (C), 5g/kg (T1), 10g/kg
(T2) and 15g/kg (T3) were added to the diet to investigate the effects of the respective
treatments on the growth performance and blood parameter of Macrobrachium
rosenbergii (mean weight of 3.17±0.46g). After the 45 days of feeding, prawns fed the
diet containing 15g/kg of M. cajuputi leaves extracts significantly enhanced growth
performance, which showed that weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) was
the highest amongst all treatments (P<0.05). Blood parameters (total hemocyte count
(THC), differential hemocyte count (DHC), plasma glucose level, protein concentration
and resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila) were examined 60 days post-feeding
period. The results showed that prawns fed with the highest dosage of M. cajuputi
(15g/kg) enriched diet showed an increment of THC and DHC significantly at (p<0.05)
compared to the control group.
