Evaluation of soybean meal replacement with sesame seed meal using activated charcoal as an additive in the diet of African catfish juveniles, Clarias gariepinus

This study evaluated the effects of 0.25% activated charcoal added to sesame seed meal (SSM) in partial replacement of soybean meal (SBM) of juvenile Clarias gariepinus diet on growth and haematological parameters for 70 day experimental period. Six experimental diets were formulated as: control diet 1 (100% SSM without activated charcoal), control diet 2 (100% SSM plus 0.25% activated charcoal), diet 3 (50% SMB+50% SSM), diet 4 (50% SBM+50% SSM+0.25% AC), diet 5 (30% SBM+70% SSM) and diet 6 (30% SBM+70% SSM+0.25AC). The inclusion of activated charcoal recorded significant improvement in mean weight gain, mean feed intake, specific growth rate (SGR), protein intake (PI) and protein efficiency ratio (PER). The control diet 2 recorded the highest values for growth and nutrient utilization parameters while diet 5 recorded the least values for these parameters. The best values for mean weight gain (65.33±5.57 g), specific growth rate (2.56±0.12% / day) and feed conversion ratio (0.71±0.05) were recorded in fish fed control diet 2 while the worst values (41.30±3.82 g, 1.92±0.11% / day, and 1.07±0.07, respectively) for these parameters were observed with diet 5. However, haematological parameters did not differ significantly across the diets. Thus, from this study 0.25% activated charcoal could favorably be added to the feed of C. gariepinusfor optimum performance without any adverse effect on the health status of the fish

Dietary energy requirement of C juvenile at fixed crude protein and its effects on growth, nutrient performance, haematology and biochemical indices

This study investigated the optimum dietary energy requirement of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus juveniles fed 35 % crude protein level and the effects on growth, nutrient performance, haematology and biochemical indices. The control diet A had 2800 kcal while, treatments B, C, D and E have 3000, 3200, 3400 and 3600 kcal energy inclusion respectively. Diets were fed to triplicate groups of eight catfish (51 ± 0.56 g) per tank twice daily to satiation for 8 weeks. Significant effects of graded energy levels across diets (p<0.05) on growth and nutrient utilization were recorded relative to diet A. The optimal dietary energy was within the range (3000 – 3200 kcal/Kg) on nutrients utilization and growth parameters. The least value (1.33 ± 0.17) and the best feed conversion ratio was recorded with fish fed 3000 kcal/kg while, the protein efficiency ratio was significantly high (p<0.05) at 3200 kcal/kg (52.80 ± 3.33). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) recorded across diets in the measured blood parameters and fish organs. Some biochemical parameters like total protein, albumin, cholesterol and high density lipoprotein were not significantly affected by dietary energy inclusion levels, other stress enzyme, like superoxide dismutase was significantly different between diet with diet A and diet E respectively. Though, diet A had the best estimated investment cost (N 48.30), diet C had the highest values for both net profit (N 50.68) and benefit cost ratio (N 1.79). Therefore, feed at 35 % CP would require between 3000 – 3200 kcal/Kg for optimum performance.Keywords: Clarias gariepinus, Energy, Protein, Growth, Nutrient, Haematology, Biochemical

Inclusion effect of onion peel powder in the diet of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus: Growth, blood chemistry, hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities and SOD mRNA responses

This study evaluated the dietary effect of onion peel powder (OPP) on growth, blood chemistry, hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities and SOD mRNA responses of Clarias gariepinus. One hundred and twenty fish were randomly distributed into twelve plastic tanks and fed experimental diets for 42 days. Four diets (control, OPP-2, OPP-4 and OPP-6) were formulated with graded levels of OPP (0, 20, 40 and 60 g/kg diet) respectively. At the end of the experiment, the fish fed OPP supplemented diet exhibited significantly increased weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR) and better feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group (p<0.05). The highest values of haemoglobin (Hb) and erythrocytes (RBCs) count were observed in fish fed control diet (p<0.05). The pack cell volume (PCV, %) of the control and OPP-6 groups differs significantly (p<0.05) from other groups. Experimental fish group fed the control diet had the lowest total leukocytes (WBCs) and was significantly different (p<0.05) from other treatment groups. Dietary OPP significantly decreased (p<0.05) cortisol level when compared to the control group. The cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose values of fish fed OPP-2 were significantly higher (p<0.05) than other experimental groups including control. The antioxidant enzymes (catalase and glutathione) increased significantly (p<0.05) in fish fed graded levels of OPP diets compared to those fed the control diet. Furthermore, the control group had significantly decreased expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene (p<0.05). Therefore, this study confirmed the beneficial effects of onion peel supplemented diet on growth, nutrient utilization, haematology and biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzymes activities of C. gariepinus

Dietary effects of Cissus populnea and Securidaca longepedunculata aqeous leave extracts on reproductive, haematological and biochemical parameters of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) brood stocks

Sixty Clarias gariepinus broodstocks were fed with varying inclusion levels of Cissus populnea (CP) and Securidaca longepedunculata (SL). Diet 1 (control, 0 ml plant extract), Diet 2(0.5ml/kg CP), Diet 3 (1.0ml/kg CP), Diet 4 (0.5ml/kg SL), Diet 5 (1.0ml/kg SL), Diet 6­ (0.5ml/kg CP + 0.5ml/kg SL) were fed for 90days to evaluate gametes quality, haematological and biochemical parameters. The results of haematocrit and red blood cell of treated groups were relatively similar to the control. The white blood cell and haemoglobin values were lower than the control group while the mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin were significantly difference across treatments however; an elevated glucose level was recorded in the treated groups. Also, the mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width were relatively similar across treatments. The serum testosterone, progesterone and estrogen were found to be higher in fish fed diet 2 (0.5ml/kg CP). C. populnea at 0.5ml/kg significantly (p0.05) improved eggs weight, fecundity, gonadosomatic index, % fertilization and hatchability. Male brood stocks fed on diet 2 (0.5ml/kg CP) recorded the highest values for sperm motility (56.67 ± 0.33%), milt count and volume (820.33 ± 0.33×106/ml and 1.80 ± 0.05ml respectively) across all groups. Similarly, diet 2 (0.5ml/kg CP) had the highest values for eggs weight (283.7±102.4g), fecundity (168,286 ± 57157), gonadosomatic index (32.59 ± 2.72), fertilization (62 ± 20.4%) and hatchability (62.92 ± 19.75%).The dietary supplementation of 0.5 ml/kg C. populnea extract highly enhanced the reproductive profiles of  male and female C. gariepinus brood stocks

Evaluation of soybean meal replacement with sesame seed meal using activated charcoal as an additive in the diet of African catfish juveniles, Clarias gariepinus

This study evaluated the effects of 0.25% activated charcoal added to sesame seed meal (SSM) in partial replacement of soybean meal (SBM) of juvenile Clarias gariepinus diet on growth and haematological parameters for 70 day experimental period. Six experimental diets were formulated as: control diet 1 (100% SSM without activated charcoal), control diet 2 (100% SSM plus 0.25% activated charcoal), diet 3 (50% SMB+50% SSM), diet 4 (50% SBM+50% SSM+0.25% AC), diet 5 (30% SBM+70% SSM) and diet 6 (30% SBM+70% SSM+0.25AC). The inclusion of activated charcoal recorded significant improvement in mean weight gain, mean feed intake, specific growth rate (SGR), protein intake (PI) and protein efficiency ratio (PER). The control diet 2 recorded the highest values for growth and nutrient utilization parameters while diet 5 recorded the least values for these parameters. The best values for mean weight gain (65.33±5.57 g), specific growth rate (2.56±0.12% / day) and feed conversion ratio (0.71±0.05) were recorded in fish fed control diet 2 while the worst values (41.30±3.82 g, 1.92±0.11% / day, and 1.07±0.07, respectively) for these parameters were observed with diet 5. However, haematological parameters did not differ significantly across the diets. Thus, from this study 0.25% activated charcoal could favorably be added to the feed of C. gariepinusfor optimum performance without any adverse effect on the health status of the fish