Author(s): Oladipupo TM

Abstract: The current study aimed at evaluate the effect of different inclusion levels of Asparagus racemosus root meal on two hundred and twenty five (225) Clarias gariepinus juveniles. Five iso-nitrogenous diets of 40% crude protein were formulated to contain different inclusion levels of A. racemosus root meal at (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g/kg) labelled as (DI-D5) with a triplicate of each regime at fifteen fish per tank. The fingerlings were fed to visual satiation between 08:00 and 09:00 and 16:00 and 17:00 hours for a period of fifty six (56) days in the Laboratory. Fish were weighed biweekly until the experiment was terminated. Results showed that Temperature ranged between 27.2–27.5 °C, Dissolved oxygen between 6.52-6.79 mg/L and pH between 7.12-7.65. Fish fed diet 3(1.0 g/kg) had the highest weight gain compared to the control and other treatments. A reduction in growth as the A. racemosus root meal increased beyond 1.0 g/kg was observed in diet 4 and 5 respectively. Different inclusion levels of A. racemosus in the diets improved the blood parameters as there were significant differences (p˂0.05) in the parameters tested. There were significant differences in the proximate analysis of the fish. Protein content was highest in fish fed diet 3(66.3%) and lowest in fish fed diet 1(62.4%). The study concludes that the inclusion level of A. racemosus root meal in the diet of C. gariepinus at 1.0 g/kg is found to be ideal to promote growth and better nutrient utilization.

DOI: 10.22271/fish.2023.v11.i2b.2792

Pages: 91-95  |  353 Views  171 Downloads

Download Full Article: Click Here