Effect of phytase supplementation on the growth, mineral composition and phosphorus digestibility of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) juveniles

This study investigates the effect of phytase supplemented diets on growth, bone mineralization and phosphorus digestibility of African catfish Clarias gariepinus. A 40 % crude protein diet was produced using fishmeal, soybean meal, lima bean meal, groundnut cake and yellow maize as ingredients. Diets E0, E1, E2 and E3 were supplemented with phytase (Natuphos microbial phytase, 5000 FTU/g; BASF) at 0, 1000, 2000 and 4000 FTUkg -1 feed respectively. The diets were fed to C. gariepinus (25.28 ± 0.03g) at 3 % body weight at two equal instalments daily. After 98 days of feeding, results indicated that mean weight gain (MWG) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in fish fed E1 (63.82 g), E2 (66.71 g) and E3 (64.98 g) than E0 (55.76 g). Feed consumed was marginally highest in E2 (110.91g) and least in E0 (103.83g). Phosphorus digestibility were significantly lower (p>0.05) in E0, with phytase resulting in over 28 % improvement. Calcium, phosphorus and zinc were highest in the carcass of E3 (30.23 mg/g, 31.96 mg/g and 52.78 µg/g respectively) and least in E0 (18.81 mg/g, 24.83mg/g and 35.55 µg/g respectively). Results also indicate significant increase (p<0.05) in bone minerals of fish fed diets E1, E2 and E3. Faecal phosphorus decreased with increase in phytase supplement from 15.98 mg/g in E0 to 11.01 mg/g in E3. Value of fish produced and profit index were significantly higher (p<0.05) in fish fed diets supplemented with phytase.Keywords: Clarias gariepinus, Growth, Digestibility, Calcium, Phosphorus, Zin

Practical Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization of Catfish Clarias gariepinus Fed Varying Inclusion Level of Fermented Unsieved Yellow Maize

This study was conducted using 150 fish of Clarias gariepinus to investigate the growth performance and nutrient utilization of Clarias gariepinus fed five treatment diets containing varying inclusion level of fermented unsieved maize. The diets were grouped into CT, T1, T2, T3, and T4 with inclusion levels of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of fermented unsieved maize respectively. Highest weight gain was recorded in T4 with value of 10.24 and lowest weight was recorded in CT with 9.17. High FCR were observed in T2 with value of 0.70 and lower value was observed in T4 with value of 0.62. While, T2, T3, and T4 have highest survival rates with values of 90% in each treatment CT and T1 recorded 80% and 70% respectively. There was a significant (p< 0.05) difference between the food conversion ratios treatment T4 with the best value and other treatments. There was a significant (p< 0.05) difference between the levels of fermented unsieved maize inclusion and the specific growth rate of the experimental fish. The highest value of protein level and feed efficiency were observed in T4 at significant difference level (p< 0.05) than other treatments. It was concluded that fermentation of maize in fish feed has positive effects on the nutritional value of the feed. It is recommend that fermented maize can replace raw maize in fish feed diet for growth performance. Keywords: Fermentation, yellow maize, Clarias gariepinus, Fish, Feed DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/10-6-06 Publication date:March 31st 202

Growth performance and nutrient utilization of catfish Clarias gariepinus fed varying inclusion level of fermented unsieved yellow maize

This study was conducted using 150 fish of Clarias gariepinus to investigate the growth performance and nutrient utilization of Clarias gariepinus fed five treatment diets containing varying inclusion level of fermented unsieved maize. The diets were grouped into CT, T1, T2, T3, and T4 with inclusion levels of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of fermented unsieved maize respectively. Highest weight gain was recorded in T4 with value of 10.24 and lowest weight was recorded in CT with 9.17. High FCR were observed in T2 with value of 0.70 and lower value was observed in T4 with value of 0.62. While, T2, T3, and T4 have highest survival rates with values of 90% in each treatment CT and T1 recorded 80% and 70% respectively. There was a significant (p< 0.05) difference between the food conversion ratios treatment T4 with the best value and other treatments. There was a significant (p< 0.05) difference between the levels of fermented unsieved maize inclusion and the specific growth rate of the experimental fish. The highest value of protein level and feed efficiency were observed in T4 at significant difference level (p< 0.05) than other treatments. It was concluded that fermentation of maize in fish feed has positive effects on the nutritional value of the feed. It is recommend that fermented maize can replace raw maize in fish feed diet for growth performance

THE USE OF NOODLE WASTE AS A PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR MAIZE IN THE DIET OF TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus) FINGERLINGS

An 84 days study was conducted to investigate the effect of noodle waste as maize replacement on the growth performance, nutrient utilization and cost effectiveness in the diet of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings.  One hundred and fifty fingerlings of Tilapia with average weight of 12.02 ± 0.19 (Mean ± S.D ) were distributed as 10 fish per plastic bowl (0.4m × 0.3m × 0.3m) in the wet laboratory. Five isonitrogenous experimental diets were formulated with noodle waste containing replacement of 0% (control) (D1), 25% (D2), 50% (D3), 75% (D4) and 100% (D5) as an energy source. The fingerlings were fed 5% body weight for 42days and 3% body weight for 42 days, the water was changed at every two day intervals. It was observed at the end of the experiment that noodle waste was most suitable when incorporated at 25% replacement. Weight gain (WG), Specific Growth Rate (SGR), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Protein Efficiency (PE) and carcass analysis were evaluated during this study. The total weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency values of 52.14 ±1.78, 0.20 ± 0.03, 1.95 ± 0.08 and 1.49±0.05 respectively were highest in fish fed diet D2. The final weights of the fish showed significant difference P&lt;0.05 between fish fed various diets. There was significant difference (P&lt;0.05) in FCR among the dietary treatment. D1 is not significantly different from D2. There was also significant difference in the SGR among the dietary treatment, though D1 and D2 has no significant difference (P&lt;0.05), there was also significant difference (P&lt;0.05) in the incidence of cost. The carcass protein also shows significant difference (P&lt;0.05) with the control having the highest (40.5533 ± 0.01) and D1 having close value among the treatment diet (21.033 ±0.02) and same pattern followed for the fat, NFE, moisture content. Noodle waste can effectively replace maize at 50% level inclusion rate without any negative effect on growth and fish health, but, it is produce best result as 25% inclusion level as maize replacement as an energy source. Keywords: Noodle-waste; Maize; Oreochromis niloticus; growth performance

Growth performance of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) juvenile fed cattle hoof meal reference and test diets

Cattle hoof meal was processed by autoclaving, fermentation, wood ash fermentation, soda ash treatment and rawunprocessed hoof. This was studied on Clarias gariepinus juveniles 14.22±0.23g stocked at 15 fish per tank in replicate. Treated samples were used in compounding six isonitrogenous diets of a reference diet 70%: test diet 30% and fed at 3% body weight. Significant difference (P<0.05) was observed among dietary treatments. Weight gain, specific growth rate feed conversion ratio percentage weight gain in soda ash diet was enhanced followed by raw hoof diet while wood ash treated diet showed the least response on fish growth. Fish carcass quality was enhanced with raw hoof treated diets over other diets. Utilization of soda ash treated hoof meal can be used in enhancing growth of C. gariepinus.Keywords: Cattle-hoof-meal; Fishmeal; haematology; keratin

Performance Evaluation of Integrated Aquaculture of Catfish, Pig and Rice

Study was carried out on the performance of fish, pig and rice integration to assess the productivity of integrated fish farming system against conventional fish, pig and rice farming, carried out in 84 days, T-test was used to compare means of the growth performance of fish and pig and water use efficiency (WUE) of rice culture under conventional and integrated farming systems. The average weight gain (167g), specific growth rate (1.2) and the feed conversion ratio (1:1) in the integrated system were better and significantly different (p&lt; 0.05) from those got from conventional systems. Water use efficiency of the integrated system in terms of rice production (3.566) was 16.99 times better than that conventional system that relied on irrigation. Physico-chemical parameters of the two system studied were within tolerable range and showed no significant difference. According to the results got, integration of fish, pig and rice reduces waste and input and thus increased productivity which in turn brings about wider profit margin and contributes to food security. In the face of the greatly dwindling freshwater reserve, integrated aquaculture holds the key to sustainable food security. This study has shown that integration of catfish, pig, and rice gave more yield and profits. Keywords: Integrated aquaculture, fish - pig –rice, performance, water use efficiency DOI: 10.7176/ALST/71-0

Growth Performance of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Fed Graded Levels of Roasted Tropical Almond (Terminalia catappa Linnaeus) Kernel Meal Based Diets

Feeding trial was conducted in experimental plastic tanks (50 x 35 x 33 cm) to assess the growth performance of Clarias gariepinus juveniles fed diets containing Roasted Tropical Almond Kernel Meal (ROAM) for 105 days. Five isonitrogenous diets composed of 0, 25, 50, 75  and 100% ROAM as a  replacement for Soybean Meal (SBM) were fed to the fish twice daily at 3% body weight. Each dietary treatment was replicated with 20 fish per replicate (initial mean weight 12.03±0.01 g). Mean Weight Gain (MWG), Specific Growth Rate (SGR) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were calculated. Economic benefit of replacing SBM with ROAM in C. gariepinus diet was evaluated using Profit Index (PI) and Incidence of cost (IC). Data were subjected to Descriptive statistics and ANOVA at p=0.05. Fish fed 75% ROAM diet had the highest MWG (69.03 g), SGR (1.68 %), and the least FCR (1.57), while 100% ROAM had the least values for MWG (27.02 g), SGR (0.66 %) and the highest FCR (3.30). Incidence of cost (0.36) was least in 75% ROAM and highest (0.70) in 100% ROAM diet. 75% ROAM had the highest Profit Index (1.40) while 100% ROAM had the least value (0.76). Roasted Almond kernel meal can economically replace soybean meal up to 75% in Clarias gariepinus diet. Substitution beyond this level caused growth and economic depression. Keywords: Catfish, feed conversion ratio, Indian almond, soybean meal, specific growth rate

Performance of Oreochromis niloticus juveniles fed autoclaved mango seed kernel diets

Human and livestock population increase has led to escalating prices of energy feed stuffs used in aquaculture. There have been some researches on various inexpensive agro-industrial by-products as substitutes for maize in fish diets with varying degrees of success. This study investigated the growth performance of Oreochromis niloticus juveniles fed with autoclaved Mango seed formulated fish diet as a dietary energy source at different inclusion level. 150 Oreochromis niloticus juveniles with mean weight of 10.24±0.05g were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5). The fish were acclimated for two weeks and were allotted to five treatments in plastic tanks (26x46x20cm). Each treatment contained 10 fish per tank. The fish were fed experimental diets at T1:0%, T2: 25%, T3: 50%, T4: 75% and T5: 100% Mango Seed Kernel Meal (MSKM) inclusion levels respectively. The highest Mean weight Gain (MWG) and lowest Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was recorded in Treatment 2: 25% (48.93±4.88); (0.91±0.07) while the lowest MWG and highest FCR was recorded in Treatment 5: 100% (27.30±3.99); (1.47±0.16).  Specific Growth Rate (SGR) was lower in Treatment 5: 100% when compared to other treatments. Feed intake followed a decreasing order. The blood samples collected showed that there was significant differences (p0.05) In conclusion, growth performance and haematological activity could be best improved by substituting mango seed kernel meal at 75% with no implication on growth and fish health

Preliminary evaluation of some aspects of the ecology (growth pattern, condition factor and reproductive biology) of African pike, Hepsetus odoe (Bloch 1794), in Lake Eleiyele, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract A preliminary investigation of length-weight relationship, condition factor and reproductive ecology of African pike fish, Hepsetus odoe, was conducted between June to August 2010 in Lake Eleiyele. A total of 90 samples of the fish species were caught by fishermen using gill nets. The results obtained showed that fish species had isometric growth pattern (contrary to negative allometry expected) with the growth exponent, b value of 2.64, that is not statistically different from 3 and with high statistical power of 0.866 when tested. The mean condition factor, K, was found to be 2.6, indicating that the fish species were in good condition in the study area. For reproductive biology, mean fecundity and gonadosomatic index were found to be 1349 eggs and 3.53% respectively. This study was necessary to fill the knowledge gap and provide information for management and conservation of the investigated species in the lake system. This study recommended that further research needs to be conducted because the sampling was carried out in the rainy season period and within a quarter of a year