The nutritional and anti-nutritive composition of Karaya gum tree (Sterculia setigera) seed collected from Federal College of Wildlife Management estate, New Bussa, Nigeria was evaluated from October to December, 2013 with the aim of providing data that will guide the effective utilization and inclusion of this under exploited tropical plant seed in fish feed formulation. The seeds were washed, dried, grounded and analyzed for the proximate composition, vitamin and mineral contents as well as the anti-nutritive factors using standard procedures. The result showed that the mean values for the proximate composition were: moisture 5.20%, ash 3.95%, fat 26.03%, fiber 6.15%, protein 13.39% and carbohydrate 45.27%. The plant also contained vitamins and relatively adequate essential mineral elements of nutritional importance of macro elements such as calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium and micro elements of iron, manganese, zinc and copper. Some anti-nutritional factor such as; alkaloids, phytate, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, steroids and trace of oxalate were also found in the plant, but their composition will pose no serious nutritional problem if well processed before its inclusion in fish diet and could therefore be a cheap source of raw materials for the fortification applications in various fish feed formulations.

As Fish farming (Aquaculture) is the most efficient husbandry method for animal protein production, an assessment of catfish farming in Osogbo and Osun state was undertaken. An assessment was carried out among 53 catfish farmers between January and April, 2013 using questionnaires conducted via face-to-face interviews. The results revealed that there are large numbers of fish farms in and around the Osogbo area. Twenty (37.74%) of the fish farms are commercial farms while thirty-three (62.36%) are homestead. Results also showed that there were more males are than females working in these fish farms. The two prominent religious faiths, Islam and Christianity are both represented by the employees, indicating that it there are no religious restrictions. The semi-intensive system of fish farming with concrete and earthen ponds was being adopted by the farmers and there has been steady development over the last five years. Insufficient funds for expansion, unpredictable weather, fishseed mortality, irregular price of feed ingredients and pricing of products, among other factors, are the major challenges faced. Useful suggestions and recommendations are offered to address these challenges and sustain business growth.

The nutritional and anti-nutritive composition of Karaya gum tree (Sterculia setigera) seed collected from Federal College of Wildlife Management estate, New Bussa, Nigeria was evaluated from October to December, 2013 with the aim of providing data that will guide the effective utilization and inclusion of this under exploited tropical plant seed in fish feed formulation. The seeds were washed, dried, grounded and analyzed for the proximate composition, vitamin and mineral contents as well as the anti-nutritive factors using standard procedures. The result showed that the mean values for the proximate composition were: moisture 5.20%, ash 3.95%, fat 26.03%, fiber 6.15%, protein 13.39% and carbohydrate 45.27%. The plant also contained vitamins and relatively adequate essential mineral elements of nutritional importance of macro elements such as calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium and micro elements of iron, manganese, zinc and copper. Some anti-nutritional factor such as; alkaloids, phytate, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, steroids and trace of oxalate were also found in the plant, but their composition will pose no serious  nutritional problem if well processed before its inclusion in fish diet and could therefore be a cheap source of raw materials for the fortification applications in various fish feed formulations.

As Fish farming (Aquaculture) is the most efficient husbandry method for animal protein production, an assessment of catfish farming in Osogbo and Osun state was undertaken. An assessment was carried out among 53 catfish farmers between January and April, 2013 using questionnaires conducted via face-to-face interviews. The results revealed that there are large numbers of fish farms in and around the Osogbo area. Twenty (37.74%) of the fish farms are commercial farms while thirty-three (62.36%) are homestead. Results also showed that there were more males are than females working in these fish farms. The two prominent religious faiths, Islam and Christianity are both represented by the employees, indicating that it there are no religious restrictions. The semi-intensive system of fish farming with concrete and earthen ponds was being adopted by the farmers and there has been steady development over the last five years. Insufficient funds for expansion, unpredictable weather, fishseed mortality, irregular price of feed ingredients and pricing of products, among other factors, are the major challenges faced. Useful suggestions and recommendations are offered to address these challenges and sustain business growth.