GROWTH PERFORMANCE, HAEMATOLOGY AND SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY OF JUVENILES Clarias gariepinus FED POWDERED TURMERIC-BASED DIETS

Abstract

The increasing concern of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and that of Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) about the residue of antibiotic and drugs used in aquaculture is of direct health hazard on humans consuming the fish at the end. This study was therefore carried out using turmeric, a root plant as a feed additive in fish production. This experiment incorporated graded levels of turmeric in catfish diet being a widely cultured fish species in Nigeria with the purpose of producing healthy fish for human consumption. Three hundred (300) catfish juveniles were allotted into five dietary treatments of turmeric inclusion at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10%levels in triplicates. Treatment 1 (T1) to treatment 5 (T5) initial blood sample was taken and mean weight of the fish were also determined by using sensitive weighing balance. Date were collected fortnightly on growth performance [Mean Weight Gain (MWG) and Specific Growth Rate (SGR)] and Nutrient Utilization [Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER)]. The SGR falls within the range of 1.94-2.33%g/day for T5 and T1 respectively. T2 and T4 (2.25) were recorded against T3 (2.03), T5 (1.94) and that of highest value in T1 (2.33). The evaluation in SGR was in order of T5<T3<T2 and T4<T1 and FCR was in reverse order of T1>T2>T4>T3 and T5. Whereas the highest value of Haemoglobin, PCV, RBC, WBC and MCH were recorded in T2 (8.3g/dl, 25%, 2.39×1012/L, 113×10g/L and 34.72 respectively which contained 2.5% of turmeric inclusion. It is evident that turmeric can enhance growth performance and improve the immunity level in fish at 2.5% inclusion level, thereby granting successful fish production.