Enhancing Labeo rohita production with propolis: A natural immunostimulant for sustainable aquaculture

Introduction: Eco-friendly feed additives such as propolis promotes health and animal welfare in aquaculture, ensuring sustainable and healthier production. As consumers demand for nutritionally healthy and safe aquatic products, propolis has emerged as a potent natural and sustainable functional additive for aquafeed industry due to its strong antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this context, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary inclusion of propolis (pp) on growth, feed utilization, body composition, hematological and biochemical health indices in juvenile Labeo rohita. Methods: A total of 275 fish (4.9 ± 0.1g) were randomly assigned to five experimental groups, each consisted of three replicates. A basal diet (as control with 0.00 g pp/kg) was formulated and by adding graded concentrations of propolis (05, 10, 15, and 20 g pp/kg feed) five test diets were prepared and hand-fed to fish for 60 days three times a day until apparent satiation. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using the Statistix 9.0 software. Results: Optimal dietary supplementation of propolis significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) growth, body composition, and physiological health in rohu, although excessive inclusion levels led to a decline in these benefits. The quadratic regression model indicated that the maximum weight gain in rohu was achieved at a dietary concentration of 6.20 g pp/kg feed. Conclusions: The optimal dietary inclusion of propolis (6.20 g pp/kg feed) significantly promoted growth and health status of juvenile Labeo rohita. This study provides aquaculturists with essential insights into the optimal supplementation of this natural additive, ensuring long-term ecological balance and economic sustainability.