Effect of partial and complete replacement of fishmeal with mushroom stalk meal and soy bean meal on growth performance of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings

A dietary study was conducted to assess the use of mushroom stalk (MM), Pleurotus sajor caju, an agriculture waste and soy bean meal (SBM) as partial and complete replacement of fishmeal (FM) in tilapia fingerling diets. The study was conducted for 56 days. The diets were processed into sinking pellets. The experimental diets were formulated to replace fish meal protein at 0, 33, 67 and 100% (diet 4, 3, 2 and 1). In this experiment, Nile tilapia fingerlings weighing about 1.00 g were fed each of four isonitrogenous diet. They were randomly distributed into 12 plastic tanks with each tank stocking 20 fish. The experiment was conducted in three replicates for each treatment. All the diets were well accepted by the fish. No physical abnormalities were observed in all treatments. Good growth performance was shown in 33% replacement (diet 3) of FM diet. However, diet 1 (100% replacement) gave the highest increment in crude protein level and the best result of feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER). Furthermore, the 100% replacement of FM (diet 1) was the best with a production cost of RM2.61/kg

Inclusion of cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) meal in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) feed influences disease resistance

In our present study, we observed the effect of cricket meal (CM) on disease resistance of African catfish. Fish were fed diets containing 350 g kg–1 and 400 g kg–1 of CM and 350 g kg–1 of fishmeal as control. The fish were divided into triplicates treatments of ten fish per replicate, weighed 22.5±0.6 g and fed with experimental diets for 40 days before being challenged against Aeromonas hydrophila. Relative percentage of survival (RPS) was recorded over 12 days post-challenge. White blood cell count, total protein, globulin and lysozyme showed significantly increasing levels in those fed with cricket meal diet compared to the control group. Mortalities at 12-day post-challenge significantly decreased to 30% (RPS: 66.7%) and 27% (RPS: 70%) for 35% and 40% CM respectively compared to 90% mortality in control group. Intestines and liver tissues of infected fish were dissected for pathogenic confirmation. The intestines of control diet showed the highest bacterial load (58.2×107 cfu g–1) compared to CM diets. The current study indicates that dietary CM could enhance the innate immune system and disease resistance of African catfish

Fishmeal replacement with Spirulina Platensis and Chlorella vulgaris in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) diet: Effect on antioxidant enzyme activities and haematological parameters

This study explored fishmeal replacement with two freshwater microalgae: Spirulina Platensis and Chlorella vulgaris in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) diet. The effect of inclusion of the two microalgae on biomarkers of oxidative stress, haematological parameters, enzyme activities and growth performance were investigated. The juvenile fish were given 3 distinct treatments with isonitrogenous (35.01–36.57%) and isoenergetic (417.24–422.27 Kcal 100 g−1) diets containing 50% S. platensis (50SP), 75% S. platensis (75SP), 50% C. vulgaris (50CL), 75% C. vulgaris (75CL) and 100% fishmeal (100% FM) was used as the control diet. The result shows that all the diets substituted with both S. platensis, and C. vulgaris boosted the growth performance based on specific growth rate (SGR) and body weight gain (BDWG) when compared with the control diet. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) was significantly influenced by all the supplementations. The haematological analysis of the fish shows a significant increase in the value of red and white blood cells upon supplementation with 50SP and 50CL but decrease slightly when increased to 75SP and 75CL. Furthermore, the value of haematocrit and haemoglobin also increased upon supplementation with 50SP and 50CL but decrease slightly when increased to 75SP and 75CL. The white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC) increased, while total cholesterol (TCL), and Plasma glucose levels decreased significantly upon supplementation of algae. This is a clear indication that S. platensis and C. vulgaris are a promising replacement for fishmeal, which is a source protein in the C. gariepinus diet

Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris in practical diets of juvenile African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) / Raji Ameenat Abiodun

Aquaculture production in natural or controlled marine or freshwater environment is an important industry for food security. Extensive production of African catfish is highly dependent on fishmeal (FM) as the most preferred protein source owing to its well-balanced nutrient properties. However, increasing prices of FM and the need for more secured alternative nutritional sources have aroused significant interest in the use of plants sources, especially the algae. This study evaluated the potential of Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris in the diets of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in relation to nutrient and amino acids digestibility, growth performance, immune-stimulatory and antioxidant properties. Four different feeding trials were conducted with Spirulina (SP) and Chlorella (CL) replacing up to 75% fishmeal (FM) protein contribution in the various feeding trials except for digestibility experiment where the two test diets were formulated using 30% each of the test ingredients (SP and CL) and 70% reference (Ref containing FM and plant feedstuffs) diet on a dry basis. Results obtained from these trials indicated that SP and CL exhibited significantly higher (P<0.05) nutrient and amino acids ADCs than FM experimental group. CL75% best-supported growth and Polynomial curve estimation regression analysis revealed the optimum FM replacement levels by SP and CL to be 68.5% and 69.4% respectively. These levels subsequently served as a guide in feed formulation of immunity and oxidative stress enzymes studies. The effect of SP on flesh fat deposition was found to be dependent on the nutritional composition, the lipid source and quantity (plant/ animal oil) as well as the quantity of SP incorporated into the diets. Comparatively SP75% and CL50% had better haematological and biochemical values pre-and post- Aeromonas hydrophila, than control. Increased supplementation of both algae significantly reduced LDL (58.65- 58.68mg/dl) and enhanced HDL (69.21 – 70.66mg/dl) an indication of their hypocholesterolemic properties. Post-challenge mortalities were significantly decreased in groups treated with both algae (26.67- 53.33%) as compared to control (80%). Significantly highest intestinal (1.29×105 Cfu mlˉ1), and lowest liver (3.72× 102 Cfu mlˉ1) bacteria load was found in the control and CL50% respectively. Also, maximum lysozyme and respiratory burst activity were observed in CL75 (145U mlˉ1) and CL50 (1.55A540) correspondingly. This indicated that the different algae inclusion levels enhanced the immunity and survivability of the African catfish. Replacement of FM by Spirulina and Chlorella in African catfish diet improved CAT and SOD (especially in CL75% and SP75%) activities of the Africa catfish despite the minor effect of GST enzymes. This suggests that substituting FM with 50 – 75 % of SP or CL, in the diets of C. gariepinus, have the potential to improve growth and feed efficiency with no adverse effect on the fish’s well-being. This thesis, therefore, stands to argue that introduction of SP and CL are strongly recommended as a partial replacement for the conventional FM in Africa catfish feed. The introduction of both algae would enhance higher output, improve the revenue base of the entrepreneur in the African catfish industry and increase food animal protein for the consumers

Potential of field crickets meal (Gryllus bimaculatus) in the diet of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary replacement of fishmeal (FM) by using field crickets (CM) and on growth performance and feed utilization of African catfish fingerlings. Five isonitrogenous diets (28% crude protein) were used containing 0% (control), 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of FM substituted by CM. Triplicate group of fish (n = 15) were fed with their respective diets with initial mean body weight (BW) of 4.00 ± 0.8 g (mean ± SE) for 56 days. Fish fed with 100% CM exhibited significantly lower food conversion ratio than the lower inclusion level. Values of specific growth rate and protein efficiency ratio increased gradually with increasing amount of CM inclusion level from 50% to 100%. All compounds of essential amino acids were present in experimental diets although methionine, lysine and tryptophan were comparatively less than the required amount of amino acid for African catfish. Whole-body crude protein composition was significantly higher in fish fed with diet 50% to 100% CM compared to initial fish. These results indicated that CM is capable of serving as an alternative protein replacement for FM in the diet of farmed African catfish up to 100% without affecting body composition and feed utilization

Inclusion of cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) meal in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) feed influences disease resistance

In our present study, we observed the effect of cricket meal (CM) on disease resistance of African catfish. Fish were fed diets containing 350 g kg–1 and 400 g kg–1 of CM and 350 g kg–1 of fishmeal as control. The fish were divided into triplicates treatments of ten fish per replicate, weighed 22.5±0.6 g and fed with experimental diets for 40 days before being challenged against Aeromonas hydrophila. Relative percentage of survival (RPS) was recorded over 12 days post-challenge. White blood cell count, total protein, globulin and lysozyme showed significantly increasing levels in those fed with cricket meal diet compared to the control group. Mortalities at 12-day post-challenge significantly decreased to 30% (RPS: 66.7%) and 27% (RPS: 70%) for 35% and 40% CM respectively compared to 90% mortality in control group. Intestines and liver tissues of infected fish were dissected for pathogenic confirmation. The intestines of control diet showed the highest bacterial load (58.2×107 cfu g–1) compared to CM diets. The current study indicates that dietary CM could enhance the innate immune system and disease resistance of African catfish

Dietary spirulina platensis and chlorella vulgaris effects on survival and haemato-immunological responses of clarias gariepinus juveniles to aeromonas hydrophila infection

This study investigated the effects of Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris on the growth, non-specific immunity and survival of Clarias gariepinus. C. gariepinus juveniles were infected with Aeromonas hydrophila after a 16-week feeding period with 5 different diets which served as replacements for fishmeal diet. The diets are 50% C. vulgaris (CL50%), 75% C. vulgaris (CL75%), 50% S. platensis (SP50%), 75% S. platensis (SP75%), and control (100% fishmeal). Fish (n=225; 41.85± 0.05 g) were randomly divided into fifteen tanks (150 L capacity each) with triplicate groups of 15 fish per tank. CL50% had the most significant (P0.05) in growth performance among the algae treatments. Similarly, lysozyme and respiratory burst activity and post-challenge haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cells, serum total protein, albumin and higher density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly higher (P<0.05) in CL50% treatment. The present study indicates that replacing 50%-75% of fishmeal with C. vulgaris or S. platensis could improve the growth and confer significant protection against A. hydrophila in the algae-fed C. gariepinus. © 2019, BIOFLUX SRL. All rights reserved