Preliminary study on Senegal ash and Sapele tree bark-based diets on growth, survival and haematology of African Catfish fingerlings

Abstract

This study assessed the growth and haematology of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed aqueous extracts of Senegal Ash (Ekebergia senegalensis) and Sapele Tree (Entandrophragma utile) bark-based diets. Two hundred and twenty-five C. gariepinus fingerlings (1.5±0.2 g) were randomly fed for 28 days with diets containing 25 g/l and 50 g/l of aqueous extract of E. senegalensis and E. utile diets as Trt 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively, 0 g/l of the test plants served as control (Trt 1). The survival (%) of experimental fish showed significant difference (p<0.05) with highest in Trt 5 (74.00±0.38) and lowest in Trt 4 (55.00±4.03). Conversely, mean weight gained (MWG) was significantly high in Trt 4 (3.77±0.76 g) and least in Trt 5 (1.57±0.01 g). Packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and haemoglobin count (HB) in all test diets were higher than control, only WBC of control was higher than others at p>0.05. The bioactive constituents of test plants are flavonoid, saponin, anthraquinones and terpenoids and could have enhanced the survival of the fish. Conclusively, aqueous extract of E. utile bark can be included in the diet of C. gariepinus fingerlings at 25 g/l for good growth and 50 g/l for high survival.

Keywords: Nutrition, blood parameters, Ekebergia senegalensis, Entandrophragma utile, Clarias gariepinus