The effects of soybean meal replacement with pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seed meal on growth performance and some hematological parameters of carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal with pumpkin seed meal (PSM) as an alternative feed ingredient on growth performance, feed utilization, and biochemical parameters of mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings. Four isonitrogenous and isoenergetic experimental diets in which 0 (Control), 33 (PSM33), 66 (PSM66), and 100% (PSM100) soybean meal protein was replaced by equivalent percent of pumpkin seed meal protein were prepared and fed to triplicate groups of fish. The fish were randomly distributed to twelve 150 L fiberglass tanks connected to a recirculating aquaculture system. The fish were fed twice daily to the satiation level during the 63-day experimental period. The results indicated that fish fed diets containing pumpkin seed meal had better growth and feed utilization parameters compared to the control. Final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion rate were significantly higher in PSM66 treatment compared with the control (P < 0.05). The serum biochemical parameters such as total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were similar among the treatments (P > 0.05), whereas serum cholesterol and triglyceride decreased with the increase of pumpkin seed meal in diets (P < 0.05). In conclusion, there was no adverse effect on growth performance and health status of mirror carp by 100% substituting soybean meal with pumpkin seed meal as a non‐conventional feed ingredient, and the optimum rate of replacement level was estimated to be 66%.