Hematological Status of Cultured African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Supplemented with Gongronema latifolium Leaf meal Nutrient
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Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the significant influence of Gongronema latifolium leaf meal on the biochemical indices of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) post fingerlings for thirty (30) weeks. Five treatments were used in all, made up of four levels of G. latifolium leaf meal (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0) and the control diet (0g/kg, in triplicate. The experimental diets were fed to fish in fifteen tarpaulin tanks of 100 by 80 by 100 cm3 capacity each and stocked randomly with twenty C. gariepinus post fingerlings of mean initial bulk body weight of 2.881+ 0.00 g and mean total length of 5.552 ± 0.0cm. The fishes were fed twice daily at 8.00 am and 4.00 pm at 3% of their body weight. The proximate composition of five experimental diets contained crude protein, crude fibre, moisture, crude fat, ash and nitrogen-free extract within the recommended range for fish growth. Hematological indices of C. gariepinus includes white blood cells, red blood cells, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, MCH, MCV and MCHC increased significantly (P<0.05), whereas glucose level, cholesterol, triglyceride and urea increased insignificantly (p>0.05). Water quality parameters such as pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen were maintained at recommended levels for optimal growth and good health of freshwater fishes. The inclusion of G. latifolium leaf meal in C. gariepinus feed led to improved and balanced (optimal levels of) hematological indices of the experimental fish required for optimal growth and development of the cultured fishes. Results of the proximate analysis revealed that crude protein, crude fibre, moisture, crude fat, ash and nitrogen-free extract were within the recommended ranged by for optimal growth of the African cat fish (Clarias gareripinus).