Management and utilization of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for improved aquatic resources

Natural aquatic plants population can be healthy for any aquatic ecosystems as they serve as fish feed, play an important role in nutrient cycling, purify the water, control unwanted algal growth and support fauna including birds. Water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes) have proven to be a persistent and expensive aquatic weed problem. The review was carried out in the face of current global challenge (climate change) which threatens biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources so that water hyacinth could be viewed as an asset of multifarious benefits considering the revealed highlights rather than been labeled expensive nuisance. The simplest method of management of aquatic weeds is to harvest it and utilize it for cost effectiveness in production such preparation of fish and livestock feeds, bio-gas production, making of charcoal briquetting and waste water treatment for domestic and industrial use. The main problem of utilization and management of water hyacinth is its high cost of transportation to sites for utilization but, once this can be overcome as revealed in the review appropriate utilization techniques is recommended

Supplementation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) seed as feed additive in the diets of juvenile African catfish

The present study was conducted to examine the utilization potential of date palm seed (DPS) as feed additive in the diet of African catfish Clarias gariepinus for improved fed utilization. A total of 150 African catfish (weight ranged from 81.1 to 91.3g) were divided into five experimental groups. The experiment was conducted for 70 days. Experimental diets were identical in all composition except for the variation in DPS inclusion level. Non-inclusion of DPS was used at 0% (control) and other levels are 0.5% (diet 2), 1.0% (diet 3), (diet4) and 2.0% (diet 5). Growth performance and nutrient utilization of African catfish including Weight Gain (WG), Specific Growth Rate (SGR), Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) and Protein Productive Value (PPV) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those diets, where DPS supplementation at 1.5% appears to be generally higher than other levels. In the same trend fish fed DPS supplementation produced improved fish carcass values and the haematology of fish was generally better from diets in overall production performance and subsequent fish quality assessments indicated that the diets containing 1.5% DPS level recronded the best performance in fish compared to other levels including the control diet. Based on the result of the present study, it is concluded that date palm seed supplementation positively influenced growth performance and feed utilization of African catfish as well as ensuring their healthy status

Supplementation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) seed as feed additive for improved performance of juvenile African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) (Burchell, 1822)

The present study examined the utilization potential of date palm seed (DPS) as feed additive in the diet of African catfish Clarias gariepinus for efficient feed utilization. A total of 150 African catfish (weight ranged from 81.13 to 91.35 g) were divided into five experimental groups. The experiment was conducted for 70 days. Experimental diets were identical in all composition except for the variation in DPS level. Non-inclusion of DPS was used at 0% (control) and other levels are 0.5% (diet 2), 1.0% (diet 3), 1.5% (diet 4) and 2.0% (diet 5). The growth performance and nutrient utilization of African catfish including Weight Gain (WG), Specific Growth Rate (SGR), Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) and Protein Productive Value (PPV) were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of fish fed control diets, where DPS supplementation at 1.5% appears to be generally higher than other levels. In the same trend fish fed diets with DPS supplementation produced improved fish carcass values and the haematology of fish was generally better from diets in all DPS fed fish. Overall production performance and subsequent fish quality assessments indicated that the diets containing 1.5% DPS level recorded the best performance in African catfish compared to other levels including the control diet. Based on the result of the present study, it is concluded that date palm seed supplementation positively influenced growth performance and feed utilization of African catfish as well as ensuring their healthy status

Preliminary studies on some physico-chemical parameters and fish species composition of Doma Dam, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Study of some Physico-chemical parameters and fish species composition of Doma Darn was carried out between the month of August 2012. Fishing communities along the dam were selected at sampling stations and collection of fish species. The values of physico-parameters obtained for stations were in the range of 28.10-92 m for depth, 27.70-28.48~'for temperature, 7.03-7.64 for PH, 7.23-7.64mg/l for dissolved oxygen (DO), 30.08-31.75 ntu for turbidity, 94.64-105.17mg/l for alkalinity and 79.17-80.58mg/l for total hardness. The result indicated that there was significant difference (p<0.5)for depth, temperature turbidity and alkalinity, while there was no significant difference (p<0.05) for DO, pH and water hardness among the stations. The result of these parameters among the duration shows that there was significant different (p<0.05) in all the parameters except pH. The study revealed that there were twenty-five (25) fish species belonging to 12 families in the dam. The family Cichlidae and Mochokidae and Bagridae which has three each, While the family, Polypteridae, Channidae, Centropomidae, flepsetidae and Protopteridae has the lowest number of one (1) each. The overall result revealed that the Phvsico-chemical parameters were mostly influenced by duration and not much by stations; and parametersoaram measured were within the recommended water quality requirement for growth and survival of aquatic organisms

Impact of human wildlife conflict on socio-economy of support zone communities of Cross River National Park, Nigeria

Rural livelihood must be secured if biodiversity will survive. This makes it important to investigate the conflicts between rural communities in Cross River National Park (CRNP) who mostly dependent on natural resources of their immediate environment. A set of structured questionnaire was designed to gather information from support zone communities (SZC) of the park. From sampling frame of 20 and 25 listed SZCs in both Oban and Okwango Park divisions out of which four and five communities were randomly selected respectively using a sampling intensity of 20% from each list. In each of the 9 SZCs selected, 20 households were systematically selected. Data collected was augmented with Focused Group Discussions with SZC members in each selected community. All the community members surveyed engage in farming with 42.2% having alternative sources of livelihood. Most of the respondents experience the conflict between 1-10 times per year, while loss of crop ranked highest among the effects of HWC on the communities. Most of the victims attack and kill the animals as a management method in both communities. The custodians of biodiversity, prior to its protection, were the sole beneficiary of the resource. Their lives and livelihood should be secured after its protection to ensure availability of the resource in perpetuity. This calls for attention of policy makers and intervention of local, regional and international stakeholders concerned with wildlife management to ensure that sustainable development in the sub-sector is not impaired.Keywords: Human wildlife conflict, rural livelihood, biodiversity protection, conflict management, Cross River National Par

Chemical composition of snail offal waste from Giant African Land Snail as animal protein source in aquaculture nutrition

Snail meat is a relished delicacy for its nutritional and health benefits all over the world while its production and consumption has increased tremendously with the attendant waste generated from snail processing. Information is scanty on Snail Offal Waste (SOW) composition and nutritional value. SOW was analysed for its nutritional contents according to standard methods. The offal waste of African giant land snails (Archachatina marginata; Achatina achatina) proximate composition revealed a crude protein of 43.78±0.07, fat 24.61±0.01, ash 8.48±0.00, moisture content 6.73±0.06, fibre content 1.79±0.02 and NFE 16.49±0.03. The mineral content analysed were for macro mineral P 10.73g/kg, Ca 9.95g/kg, Mg 7.76g/kg, K 5.40g/kg, Na 1.71g/kg while micro mineral were low Mn 0.80g/kg, Fe 0.39g/kg, Zn 0.38g/kg and Cu 0.07g/kg. Amino acid profile analysis revealed samples to contain methionine, 2.19g/100g; Lysine, 4.56g/100g and tryptophan, 1.05g/100g. Glutamic acid was the highest (12.57g/100g) and cysteine the lowest (0.90g/100g). Snail offal waste can be utilised as feedstuff ingredient that furnishes essential nutrients in livestock ration to replace other expensive animal protein sources. &nbsp

Efecto de diferentes niveles de proteína dietética sobre el comportamiento del crecimiento y algunos caracteres de calidad del canal y huevos de Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Growth performance and some quality parameters of broodstocks and eggs of female Clarias gariepinus were investigated in this study for 70 days. Fish were fed diets with varying crude protein levels (CP); 30, 35 and 40% in triplicates with imported feed as control. Proximate analysis of feeds, fish and eggs alone were done and data were collected on fish growth and nutrient utilization efficiency fortnightly. Results showed that fish fed diets with 35% CP exhibited significantly (P<0.05) higher growth rate, feed conversion ratio and apparent net protein utilization than fish fed diet with 40% CP. Fish fed diets with 35 and 40% CP had higher CP values of carcass and for eggs while both were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the CP values of other treatments. Egg development was however higher in fish fed 40% CP diet but with marginal differences as compared to the values obtained in fish fed 35% CP diet. The result showed that diet with 35% crude protein produced good growth rate in catfish broodstock and better nutrient utilization as well as improved egg development and maturity than fish feed diet with 30% crude protein.En este estudio se investigó el comportamiento del crecimiento y algunos caracteres de calidad de las reproductoras y huevos de Clarias gariepinus durante 70 días. Los peces se alimentaron con dietas con diferentes niveles de proteína cruda (PC): 30, 35 y 40% en triplicados con alimento importado como control. El análisis proximal de los alimentos, peces y huevos se realizaron y se recogieron los datos sobre el crecimiento de los peces y la eficiencia de la utilización de los nutrimentos en dos semanas. Los resultados mostraron que los peces alimentados con dietas con 35% de PC significativamente exhibieron (P<0,05) mayor tasa de crecimiento, mayor relación de conversión alimentaria y mayor utilización neta aparente de proteína que aquellos peces alimentados con la dieta con 40% de PC. Los peces alimentados con dietas con 35 y 40% de PC presentaron mayores valores de PC de la canal y de los huevos, mientras ambos fueron significativamente mayores (P<0,05) que los valores de PC de los otros tratamientos. Sin embargo, el desarrollo de los huevos fue mayor en los peces alimentados con la dieta con 40% de PC, pero con diferencias marginales en comparación con los valores obtenidos en los peces alimentados con la dieta con 35% de PC. El resultado mostró que la dieta con 35% de proteína cruda produjo una buena tasa de crecimiento en los reproductores del bagre y una mejor utilización de los nutrimentos, así como un mejor desarrollo de los huevos y la madurez que la dieta de alimentos para peces con 30% de proteína cruda

The effects of varying dietary protein levels on growth performance and some quality parameters of carcass and eggs of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Growth performance and some quality parameters of broodstocks and eggs of female Clarias gariepinus were investigated in this study for 70 days. Fish were fed diets with varying crude protein levels (CP); 30, 35 and 40% in triplicates with imported feed as control. Proximate analysis of feeds, fish and eggs alone were done and data were collected on fish growth and nutrient utilization efficiency fortnightly. Results showed that fish fed diets with 35% CP exhibited significantly (P<0.05) higher growth rate, feed conversion ratio and apparent net protein utilization than fish fed diet with 40% CP. Fish fed diets with 35 and 40% CP had higher CP values of carcass and for eggs while both were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the CP values of other treatments. Egg development was however higher in fish fed 40% CP diet but with marginal differences as compared to the values obtained in fish fed 35% CP diet. The result showed that diet with 35% crude protein produced good growth rate in catfish broodstock and better nutrient utilization as well as improved egg development and maturity than fish feed diet with 30% crude protein.En este estudio se investigó el comportamiento del crecimiento y algunos caracteres de calidad de las reproductoras y huevos de Clarias gariepinus durante 70 días. Los peces se alimentaron con dietas con diferentes niveles de proteína cruda (PC): 30, 35 y 40% en triplicados con alimento importado como control. El análisis proximal de los alimentos, peces y huevos se realizaron y se recogieron los datos sobre el crecimiento de los peces y la eficiencia de la utilización de los nutrimentos en dos semanas. Los resultados mostraron que los peces alimentados con dietas con 35% de PC significativamente exhibieron (P<0,05) mayor tasa de crecimiento, mayor relación de conversión alimentaria y mayor utilización neta aparente de proteína que aquellos peces alimentados con la dieta con 40% de PC. Los peces alimentados con dietas con 35 y 40% de PC presentaron mayores valores de PC de la canal y de los huevos, mientras ambos fueron significativamente mayores (p<0,05) que los valores de PC de los otros tratamientos. Sin embargo, el desarrollo de los huevos fue mayor en los peces alimentados con la dieta con 40% de PC, pero con diferencias marginales en comparación con los valores obtenidos en los peces alimentados con la dieta con 35% de PC. El resultado mostró que la dieta con 35% de proteína cruda produjo una buena tasa de crecimiento en los reproductores del bagre y una mejor utilización de los nutrimentos, así como un mejor desarrollo de los huevos y la madurez que la dieta de alimentos para peces con 30% de proteína cruda

Growth Performance And Hematological Effects Of Varying Dietary Processed Leucaena Leucocephala Seed Meal In Clarias Gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Juveniles

This study investigated growth performance and hematological effects of varying dietary processed Leucaena leucocephala seed meal (LSM) in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) juveniles. Seeds of L. leucocephala were processed by soaking in water for 72 hours in order to improve their nutritional quality as a protein source for aquaculture. Five isonitrogenous diets (40% crude protein) containing different dietary levels of processed leucaena seed meals (LSM) at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% proportions of fishmeal were fed to Clarias gariepinus juveniles (21.25 ± 1.18 g average weight) for 70 days. The processed leucaena seeds and the five diets prepared were analyzed for their proximate composition. Data were collected on fish growth, feed consumption pattern and haematology. At the end of the experiment, dietary leucaena seed meal produced positive growth effect in fish under all the treatments. Growth performance and feed utilization efficiency of fish fed dietary LSM was inferior with increasing LSM inclusions as weight gain reduced from 26.49 ± 0.62g in diet 1 (0% LSM) to 20.25 ± 0.10g in diet 5 (100% LSM). There was, however, no significant difference between the weights gains, protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed on 0% and 25% LSM diets (p>0.05). Haematology of experimental fish also was significantly inferior (p<0.05) at higher dietary LSM inclusion especially at values from 50% inclusion and above. The superior growth performance, nutrient utilization and haematology status of experimental fish at lower LSM inclusion levels (0 and 25%) could be as a result of higher protein quality inferred through the estimation of PER, which can be attributed to well balanced amino acids constituents of fishmeal. Inclusion of LSM at 25% in Clarias gariepinus (catfish) diet produced the best growth rate while the 50% inclusion rate requires further study in order to increase its utilization efficiency in fish production