NUTRIENT UTILIZATION AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF CLARIAS GARIEPINUS FINGERLINGS FED GRADED LEVELS OF DIETARY PROTEIN

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of biscuit waste meal on the growth performance and utilization of Clarias gariepinus juveniles. A total of 300 juveniles of average weight 8.85g were randomly divided into five Treatments, each Treatment had three replicates. Twenty juveniles were distributed into each happa (0.7m3). The happa were suspended to ¾ of their volume using kuralon ropes carefully tied round the bamboo poles across the concrete tanks. Five diets containing 40% crude protein were formulated in which maize was replaced with biscuit waste meal at treatment; Diet 1 (TD1) 0%, 25% (TD2), 50% (TD3), 75% (TD4), 100% (TD5) levels. The fish were fed at 3% body weight per day for 10weeks. The results showed that biscuit waste was most suitable as an energy supplement when incorporated at 25% replacement (TD2) with maize. TD1 had the highest weight gain followed by TD2, TD3, TD4 and TD5 respectively. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the growth response in TD1 (0%), TD2 (25%) and TD3 (50%). It is therefore concluded that biscuit waste meal is a cheap source of non conventional energy source which can be used favorably to replace maize (25% inclusion level) as an energy source in the diets of C. gariepinus.

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Body weight changes, nutrient utilization and intestinal microflora of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fed Aloe barbadensis leaves

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v43i1.2784 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 385-398

Author(s):

S. I. Ajibola ◽

S. O. Obasa ◽

A. K. Akintokun ◽

I. Abdulraheem

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Intestinal Microflora ◽

Control Diet ◽

Clarias Gariepinus ◽

Nutrient Utilization ◽

Fish Growth ◽

African Catfish ◽

Weight Changes ◽

Aloe Barbadensis

Immuno-nutrition studies have shown that some nutrients are linked to the immunological status of fish. Growth performance, nutrient utilization and intestinal microflora were examined in Clarias gariepinus. The 120 C. gariepimus fingerlings (weight, 2.33±0.07g)were fed Aloe barbadensis leaves-paste supplemented diets in 40L freshwater-filled plastic tanks ad libitum twice daily for 12 weeks. The experimental diets containing 40% crude protein were supplemented with three concentration of A. barbadensis leaves-paste: ABL1-1%; ABL2-2%; ABL3-3% and control-0%. Mean weight gain (MWG) and percentage weight gain (PWG) increased (p<0.05) as the concentration of A. barbadensis increased. MWG (17.95±0.78) and PWG (772.2±54.94) were highest in fish fed ABL3 and lowest MWG (11.92±1.16) and PWG (17.95±0.78) in fish fed control diet. Nutrients were better utilized among the diets supplemented group at different significant levels (p < 0.05). The highest value of ANPU was observed in ABL1 when compared to all other treatments including the control. Survival rate decreased as concentration of paste increased. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the total bacterial counts (TBC) in A. barbadensis leaves-paste supplemented diets and the control having the highest TBC (23.67 ±0.88 x 105 CFU/ml). Growth of total fungal counts (TFC) was not observed in ABLI. There was a reduction in TFC as the concentration increased in the other supplemented diets, and the control having the highest TFC (7.67 ± 0.44 x 105CFU/ml). The study concluded that inclusion of 1% A. barbadensis leaves-paste as supplement in the diet could effectively improve the growth performance, nutrient utilization and survival of cultured C. gariepinus. A. barbadensis leaves-paste could also reduce the microbial load of the fish.

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