Effects of Basil Leaf (<i>Ocimum gratissimum</i>) as Dietary Additives on Growth Performance and Production Economics of <i>Clarias gariepinus</i>

Abstract

Synthetic antibiotics have been widely used in fish culture systems as performance enhancers and controlling stress.These antibiotics are expensive and induce microbial resistance with consequent environmental effects. Phytogenic plants have potential as alternative antibiotics, but there is little information on their utilization in fish nutrition. Therefore the evaluation of Basil (Ocimum gratissimum) leaf meal on the growth response, nutrient utilization and production economics of Clarias gariepinus. In a 12 week feeding experiment, juveniles (n =20, weight:10.94±0.02 g) were used to assess the effect of different concentrations of Ocimum gratissimum at OGM1-OGM6; (0.00; 0.125; 0.25; 0.5; 0.10; 2.00%). A total of 120 fish were randomly allotted into treatments in triplicates, fed twice daily at 5% body weight in completely randomized design. Data for the growth and nutrient utilization parameters such as: Total weight gain (TWG), Total final weight (TFW); Mean weight Gain (MWG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR); and economic indices such as profit indices, (PI), were determined. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α 0.05 . The highest TWG and FWG (916.67 ±17.98 g; 698.83±17.54 g) was from the fish fed OGM2 diet and the least (137.92±2.97 g; -81.08±2.97 g) from fish fed OGM6 diet. While the highest MWG was from fish fed OG3 diet and the least was from OG6 diet. The fish fed OGM3 had the highest PI (5.72) and the least (1.53) was from fish fed OGM6 diet. Therefore adoption of Ocimum gratissimum meal diet at the established dosages of OGM2 and OGM3 in sustainable catfish production in Africa is being advocated based on its availability and profitability.

Effect of &lt;i&gt;Zingiber officinale&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Allium sativum&lt;/i&gt; Powders as Natural Feed Additives Promoting Growth, Feed Utilization and Whole-Body Composition in &lt;i&gt;Clarias gariepinus&lt;/i&gt; Fry

“…Iheanacho et al [1] reported significant increases in weight gain, specific growth rate and final weight when C. gariepinus juvenile were exposed to varying concentrations (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 g/35 L) of ginger as compared to the control. The same trend was observed by Adewole [45] who also reported significant increases in growth parameters (final weight, weight gain, specific rate and relative growth rate) in C. gariepinus fed roselle supplemented diets when compared with the control. Therefore, the positive response to growth in treated fish, especially those receiving 1% inclusion level of ginger, could be attributed to the average proximate content of ginger which is a good source of mineral elements, vitamins and contains good number of phytochemical constituent that enhance growth and health of animals through actions as the stimulation of the secretion of pancreatic enzymes and the bile from the liver that induce fast feed digestion and helps to balance the intestinal bacteria [46].…”

Effects of the Use of Plant-Based Food Additives on Growth, Body Composition, and Survival of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1758)

“…The inclusion of basil leaves in this study improved the SGR, and a similar result was recorded by El-Dakar et al (2008) following the inclusion of 2% dried basil leaves in the diet of hybrid tilapia fry (Oreochromis niloticus x Oreochromis aureus). This result is in line with the work of Adewole et al (2017), who showed that the use of O. gratissimum leaves as an additive in the diet of Clarias gariepinus improved to a certain level the SGR compare to control. Oluyemi and Funmi (2015) also reported that the addition of 40 mg/g of O. gratissimum leaves in the diet of Clarias gariepinus improved the SGR.…”

The Effects of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) Calyx as Dietary Additive on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Utilization, and Haematological Parameters of Clarias gariepinus Fingerlings.

“…The progressive response in the growth of treated fish especially at 0.8% was associated with the presence of roselle which Pietta (2000), Mahadevan and Pradeep (2009) ) reported that the plant contain minerals, vitamins, flavonoids, gossypetine, sabdaretine and virtuous number of phytochemical components that boosts the growth and health status of animals. Feed utilization values also followed similar pattern with the growth parameters with the highest feed intake from RM3 diet which was in agreement with findings of Adewole (2014) who reported that roselle fed to Clarias gariepinus gave the highest feed utilization indices.…”