A Few Potential of Turmeric as Feed Additive on Fish Growth

Nutrition is the major crucial factor determining the potential of cultured fish. The increased in costs and formulation quality of fish feed have given reason to the need to increase research for substitutes. Therefore, the fish feeds require to be enriched with additives. The use of synthetic feed additives in the form of antibiotics is currently prohibited because it often causes negative effects and has an expensive price, so an alternative to synthetic feed additives is needed, including from the rhizome group such as turmeric.

Aims: This article review aims to collect and provide information about some research results regarding the use of turmeric as a feed additive in fish feed.

Study Desgn: Lierature review. The data collection method is carried out by literature study. The data was obtained by searching the literature related to the use of turmeric extract in fish farming activities through search sites on internet media published in the last twenty-three years (2000-2023). The literature used in this article review is obtained from internet media with the keywords "Turmeric", "Turmeric Flour", "Turmeric Extract", "Fish Feed", "Fish Farming", "Feed Additive”.

Results: The addition of turmeric (turmeric flour, turmeric extract, and turmeric juice) to fish feed can have a significant effect on growth, feed conversion ratio, feed utilization efficiency, gonad development, survival, and digestive enzymes. Feed additives are added to fish feed in small quantities, but their presence is needed for special functions such as antioxidants or antimicrobials in increasing the growth and efficiency of fish feed. The addition of doses to turmeric varies greatly, as turmeric flour ranges 2-60 ml/kg of feed. This is influenced by the variety and type of fish, feed quality, and aquaculture environmental conditions.So it requires further research to determine the use of the right dose to obtain maximum results.