Abstract: |
Abstract: The potential eects of cacao bean meal, Theobroma cacao L., (CBM) on the growth, health
status, blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant, immune status, physiological parameters, female
reproductive performance, and gonadal histological features of fantail goldfish (Carassius auratus, L.)
were evaluated using a complete randomized block design with sex as a block. The trial lasted for
60 days. A total of 54 healthy fantail goldfish (36 broodstock females and 18 broodstock males) were
randomly allocated into three treatments with supplementation of three levels of cocoa powder 0, 5,
and 10 g kg1 diet, CBM0, CBM5, and CBM10, respectively, with the sex ratio being four females:two
males per replicate. The body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of males were increased in
the CBM10 treatment (p < 0.05). The CBM10 diet improved relative feed costs (p < 0.05). Females
fed on the CBM10 diet had an increase in the serum level of total protein (p = 0.001). Females fed
on a diet supplemented with CBM5 showed a decrease in the serum level of triglyceride compared
to females fed on CBM0 and CBM10 diets (p = 0.03). CBM10 diet increased the serum superoxide
dismutase (SOD) activity of fish compared to CBM0 and CBM5 diets (p = 0.004). Serum levels oftestosterone and estradiol were significantly increased in males fed on the CBM10 diet. The female
reproductive performance was improved by CBM supplementation (p < 0.05). Ovarian histology
exhibited increased granulation and follicle numbers after dietary CBM supplementation compared
to the control treatment. Therefore, cacao bean meal can be used as a feed supplement in the diets
of fantail goldfish for improving the growth, health status, and female reproductive performance,
economic eciency, and gonadal histological structure.
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