Influence of Fermented Sea Cucumber Viscera (Family Holothuroidea) on Growth and Reproductive Biology of Female Broodstock of Mud Crab Scylla olivacea Muhammad Fatratullah Muhsin (a*), Yushinta Fujaya (b), Hanafiah Fazhan (a,c,d), Su Shiung Lam (a), Nita Rukminasari (b), Khor Waiho (a,c,d)
a) Higher Institute Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
*mfatratullah464[at]gmail.com
b) Faculty of Marine Science and Fishery, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
c) STU-UMT Joint Shellfish Research Laboratory, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
d) Centre of Chemical Biology, University Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
Abstract
Unknown to most, the discarded sea cucumber viscera contain a variety of nutrients that may be utilised in numerous applications, especially in aquaculture industry. Nutrient-rich ingredients derived from waste materials might help reduce production cost in crab farming. This study aims to determine the effect of fermented sea cucumber viscera (FSCV) combine with herbal extract Morus alba and Curcuma xanthorrhiza as a functional feed additive to enhance the growth and reproductive biology in female mud crab. To accomplish this, body weight gain, specific growth rate, gonadosomatic index, and histological examination were investigated in female S. olivacea subjected to FSCV-coated feed for 30 days. Fermentation was conducted using probiotics Lactobacillus casei and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Four dosages of FSCV treatments, namely T1 (0% of FSCV)- T2 (25% of FSCV)- T3 (50% of FSCV)- T4 (75% of FSCV) were compared. Overall assessments disclosed during the feeding period, broodstock fed the T2 (25% of FSCV) had the greatest growth and gonadosomatic index. Our findings suggest that FSCV-coated feed is a functional feed additive with the potential to promote growth and improve the reproductive biology of female S. olivacea.
