Groundnut shell meal as a partial replacement for maize in diets of Clarias gariepinus juveniles
Year: 2022
Type: article
Abstract: The effect of varying inclusion levels of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) shell meal on the performance of Clarias gariepinus juvenile and feed floatation was investigated. A total of 2000 juveniles of C. gariepinus with uniform measurements (mean weight and length 8.24 g and 6.7 cm) respectively, were acclimatized by immersion into a 2-ppm potassium permanganate solution for 20 mins and randomly sorted in quadruplicate (100 fish/tank measuring 1.5 m X 1 m X 0.3 m) and fed the experimental feed based on percentage body weight. At the end of 56 days of study, changes in the growth rate and haematology were ascertained, while the duration of floatation was taken regularly. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed among the growth parameters. Although the best was observed in groundnut shell meal (GMS) at 4%, body weight gained feed conversion ratio and survival rate (37.14g, 1.61, and 96% respectively). Blood profile revealed optimum performance at GSM at 8% (PCV; 39.07, HB; 14.06 and WBC; 6511.3), while RBC was highest in GSM at 6% (7.411). Floatation duration also favored GSM 6% (160 seconds). Conclusively, a groundnut shell meal inclusion level of 4% is recommended to improve the performance of C. gariepinus and floatation of locally formulated fish feed.
Institutions: Delta State University, Federal University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Aquatic Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Life below water, Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7219987338