article · Animals
Finding alternatives to antibiotics in aquafeed is critical for sustainable aquaculture. A 150-day feeding trial evaluated the effects of incorporating curcumin at rates of 0, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 percent into the diets of Gilthead seabream. Supplementation improved final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio in a dose-dependent manner, with the greatest growth recorded at 3 percent inclusion. In addition, curcumin suppressed the activity of intestinal pathogenic bacteria, including Vibrio species and Faecal coliform. Fish receiving curcumin also displayed higher levels of haematocrit, haemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells, and phagocytic activity. Biochemical indicators for liver and kidney function, including liver enzymes, urea, and total cholesterol, remained within normal physiological ranges. Overall, dietary inclusion of 2 to 3 percent curcumin supported seabream growth and physiological well-being.
The aquaculture sector requires safe, natural alternatives to antibiotics to maintain productivity and prevent disease. Demonstrating that a plant-derived additive can simultaneously suppress pathogenic gut bacteria, stimulate immune markers, and improve feed conversion provides a practical nutritional approach to rearing healthier marine fish without reliance on conventional antimicrobial drugs.
This applied research directly targets commercial aquafeed manufacturers and marine finfish producers. Tested across a 150-day feeding trial, the work provides specific inclusion targets of 2 to 3 percent for feed formulations in Gilthead seabream farming. Translating these findings to market will require feed millers to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and availability of bulk curcumin against established functional feed ingredients.
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The need to replace antibiotics in aquafeed is increasing, and alternative safe substances are now encouraged for sustainable aquaculture activity. Curcumin is regarded as a multifunctional feed additive with growth-promoting and immunostimulant potential. Thus, this study evaluated dietary inclusion of curcumin at rates of 0, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3% in the diets of Gilthead seabream for 150 days. The results showed an improved final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio in fish treated with curcumin, in a dose-dependent manner. The highest growth performance was observed in fish fed a diet supplemented with 3% curcumin. The results also showed lowered activity of pathogenic bacteria (<i>Vibrio</i> spp. and <i>Faecal coliform</i>) in the intestines of Gilthead seabream fed a diet with curcumin inclusion, in a dose-dependent manner. The hematological indices were within the normal range for healthy fish, without meaningful effects except for hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cells (RBCs), and white blood cells (WBCs), which were markedly increased by dietary curcumin. Phagocytic activity was obviously enhanced by dietary curcumin, compared with the control. The biochemical blood metabolites related to liver function (alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT)), renal tissue (urea), and total cholesterol were within the normal values, without significant differences. Overall, the inclusion of curcumin at a rate of 2-3% improved the growth performance and well-being of Gilthead seabream.
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DOI: 10.3390/ani11061779
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