COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF COMMERCIAL FEED AND FORMULATED DIETS ON THE GROWTH AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF HETEROBRANCHUS BIDORSALIS (CATFISH) FINGERLINGS

ABSTRACT

Fish farming is a major viable solution to the problem of protein inadequacy in Nigeria but the high cost of feed remains a major obstacle. This study evaluated the comparative effect of commercial feed and formulated diets on the growth and biochemical parameters of Heterobranchus bidorsalis (catfish) fingerlings. Proximate composition of fish wastes (FW), guinea corn (GC), groundnut cake (GNC) and bone meal (BM) were determined and used to formulate diets. Pearson’s square method was used to formulate three diets designated as A (FW and GC at 3:1), B (GNC and GC at 3:1) and C (FW, GNC and GC at 3:3:1). Standard methods were used to determine proximate composition, amino acid composition and mineral content of the formulated diets. A commercial  feed  (Coppens)  was  used  as  control  diet.  Forty  fingerlings  of  2  g bodyweight were divided into 4 groups consisting of ten fingerlings each. The first group  was  fed  commercial  feed,  while  the  remaining  groups  were  fed  with  the respective experimental diets. Each group was fed 5 % of their average bodyweight twice daily in an aquarium for 49 days. Changes in weight, length, biochemical and haematological parameters of the fishes were determined over the period of experimentation. The results of proximate composition of the selected ingredients revealed increase in percentage protein level in FW (59.90±0.26 %) than other ingredients  (GC,  GNC  and  BM).  The  results  of  proximate  composition  of  the formulated diets showed significant rise in percentage protein in formulated diet A (44.12±0.15 %) than other formulated diets (B and C) but lower in percentage protein level   than the control diet. Amino acid composition and mineral content of the formulated diets showed significant rise in total amino acid composition and mineral content in formulated diet A than other formulated diets (B and C) but lower than the control diet. Bodyweight and length (21.93±0.13 g; 14.97±0.24 cm) of fingerlings fed formulated diet A was significantly higher (p<0.05) than other groups (B and C) but lower than the groups fed the control diet (22.77±0.15 g; 15.07±0.25 cm). The results of biochemical parameters showed significant rise in total serum protein of fingerlings fed formulated diet A (19.52±0.21 g/dl) than other groups of fingerlings fed formulated diets (B and C) but lower than the groups of fingerlings fed the control diet (20.35±0.13 g/dl). ALP, AST and ALT values of the fingerlings fed formulated diet A were significantly lower than the groups of fingerlings fed formulated diets (B and C) but no significant difference with the groups fed the control diet. The results of haematological parameters showed that fingerlings fed formulated diet A was significantly higher in values for RBC, haemoglobin and PCV except for the WBC that was significantly lower than  other  groups  fed  formulated  diets  (B  and  C)  but  lower  than  the  groups  of fingerlings fed the control diet. Formulated diet A yield a better results in terms of protein level of the formulated diets, biochemical and haematological parameters as well as growth performance of catfish and it is therefore, preferably as an alternative for (catfish) fingerlings rearing.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background to the Study

Nutrition is the sum of all the processes in which living organisms obtain, process and utilize food substances. It is the adequate intake of proteins, carbohydrates and micronutrients  for maximum  growth,  development  and  maintenance  of  life (WHO,

2013). Living organisms consume foods that consist of various nutrients such as: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, minerals and vitamins which are transported to the various part of the body where the nutrients in the foods are converted into body tissues for various metabolic activities. Apart from milk and egg, no single food can adequately provide complete necessary nutrients for the growth, development and maintenance of life. Researches have proven that, the early stage of growth of some organisms such as mammals  and  fishes  depend  on  milk  and  eggs  for  growth,  development  and maintenance   of   life.   However,   when   these   organisms   reach   certain   stage   of development, milk and egg cannot provide adequate nutritional requirement for the organisms. The first stage in the life of a fish is completed at the expense of the reserves, which it receives from the yolk in the egg. The fish can only live on its yolk for a short period after which it goes on completely on natural or supplementary feed (Jiri et al., 2014).

Meeting domesticated animals nutritional requirements is important because consumption of nutritionally unbalanced diet might lead to poor development, increase susceptibility to disease, impaired physical and mental development, stunted growth, sluggishness as well as reduced productivity (Igah, 2008 and Jiri et al., 2014). The Nigerian neonatal mortality estimate 157 of every 1000 children (Oyewale and Adeniyi,

2017) die as a result of insufficient nutrient, most especially protein availability from plant and animals. One-third of the babies endure changing degrees of lack of healthy sustenance; some are under-developed (33 %) and with (29 %) prevalent for low bodyweight (UNICEF, 2014).The United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in 2017 reported that as high as 2 in 10,000 Nigerian children die of malnourishment per day particularly in the emergency inclined district of the North East.

Guinea corn (Sorghum vulgare) belong to the class of the grassland species which can survive in a high temperate region with small amount of rainfall producing food for millions of people (Baker and Terry, 1991). The seeds are small, round and have a diversity of colours; like coffee, dark, white and red. Sorghum is a significant staple in the foods of Nigerians where it is a major food crop. It is one of the ingredient used baking bread, pap making as well as source of food for cattle, horses, diet formulation for fish, birds and also in brewing industries (El-Sayed, 1987). It is a vital source of sugar, protein and nutrient, for example, selenium, calcium, manganese and iron which the bioavailability depends on the degree of association with numerous antinutrients (Nasser, 2011). It is additionally plentiful in B-complex nutrients. Aside from its utilization as nourishment, it contains some chemical compounds that are defensive against malignant growth, coronary illness, substantial menstrual stream, and tumor development. It contains no gluten, making it an incredible supplement for animal feed and diet formulation.

Groundnut cake (GNC) is a meal produced from groundnut which is traditionally called kulikuli. It is a significant wellspring of dietary protein for home animals, with a rough protein content of 45-48 % and is used to supplement animal feeds as a sources of protein to enhance growth and development. Because of it odour, it is acceptable by fish as feed. Groundnuts are valued sources of vitamins E, K and B. It is the richest plant source of thiamine (B1) and also rich in niacin, but it is poor in energy content FAO

(2000). Though, research have shown that Groundnut cake crude protein is deficient in certain  amino  acids  such  as  lysine  and  methionine  and  also  has  little  quantity  of threonine and tryptophan but amino acids quality can be enhanced when supplemented with lysine, methionine and tryptophan (Eyo, 2003).

Bone meal is a product of defatted, dried animal bones when grinded into a fine powder. It contain high amount of minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus and little amount of trace elements with crude protein content of 19.2 % which is used as a  sources of minerals for animal feed formulation (Robinson et al., 1994; Akagbejo and Fasakin,

2008). Bone meal is also used as fertilizer to enhance the fertility of the soil for plants growth. Calcium present in bone meal contributes to the muscle contraction activities, hormones secretion, nerve transmission, blood clotting, as well as improving the stabilizing the membrane cells of animals. It also assist the passing of nutrients and other substances  in  and  out  of cells. Phosphorus  and  trace elements  in bone meal promote cell growth; perform vital functions for the heart muscle contraction as well as normal kidney function (Brigham and Woen, 2012)

To promote aquaculture production and fish farming in Nigeria, there is need to tackle the challenges faced by aquaculture production. These challenges have render aquaculture production less practices and brought about an increasing gap between demand and supply of catfish farmed in Nigeria. These challenges include; poor management,  inadequate  availability  of  good  seed,  poor  data  collection,  lack  of favorable environment and subsequently increase in commercial feed cost which takes about 50 % of the production cost. The price of commercial feed per bag in Nigeria are;

coppens (N10, 000), Top feed (N 9,500), Aquamax (N8,000), blue crown ( N6,500) and Durante (N 6,000).

1.2       Statement of the Research Problem

Fish  farming  are  faced  with  different  challenges  in  many  Nations  of  the  world, including Nigeria. These challenges varies from one geographical location to another which reduced maximum fish production. Some of these challenges include; poor management practices, poor funding of fish farming through many institutions like research  institutions,  Universities,  Non-governmental  organizations,  regional authorities,  as  well  as  problem  with  flooding,  poor security,  problem  of predators, incidence of diseases and good quality water (Mwangi, 2008).

Weak record keeping  by farmers and inefficient collection of statistical data  have hindered the broadcasting of information on fish farming. In addition, poor funding of sub-sector operations and low private sector investment are major constraints in this sector. Furthermore, these problems are exacerbated by insufficient farmers’ entrepreneurship skills and the lack of certified quality seeds (fingerlings) and high commercial feed costs  are the key critical challenges facing Nigerian fish farmers. Because of poor facilities and lack of technical skills most fish farmers in Nigeria are yet to embrace the technology for producing high quality seeds and locally formulated diet for fish. Commercial produced feeds are difficult to come by because of it availability and high cost for fish farmers to buy. Researches have shown that most fish farmers in Nigeria relied on commercial feed for the Purpose of expanding aquaculture production. Fish farming poses substantial challenges to fish farmers in Nigeria, due to high cost of commercial feeds which takes over 50 % of the production cost and sustenance in Nigeria (; Gabriel et al., 2007; Ahmad and Ibrahim, 2016).

1.3       Justification of the Study

Reports have shown that Nigeria is the second largest African country that produces local raw materials of plants and animals origin. Some of these raw materials are readily

available and also have been analyzed to contain essential amino acids that are required for growth and other physiological functions of farm animals (Adedeji and Okocha, 2011).

Fish, like other aquatic animals require sugars, amino acids, nutrients, minerals and lipids for typical metabolic capacities, sufficient development and advancement, which is the objective of each fish ranchers. The dry load of fish muscle comprised of more than 60 % protein, so nonstop inventory of supplement protein must be guaranteed so as to meet the body protein necessities. Research shows that catfish species, fingerlings need higher crude protein levels (more than 40 percent) for rapid growth and maturity, whereas  juvenile  and  brood fish  need  35-38  percent  of  crude protein,  respectively (Csaba, 2011).

Many locally available raw materials are believed to contain indispensable amino acids that are necessary to promote the growth and maturity of catfish. These local available raw materials are considered to be cheap, easy to access, abundantly available and contain nutritional requirements of catfish when mixed at a right formulation (Heuze et al., 2015). However, some of these local raw materials have been studied for their nutritional values and others have been neglected, underutilized due to lack of adequate information   about   their   nutritional   efficacy.   Based   on   the   reported   proximate composition of groundnut cake, fish waste, bone meal and guinea corn there is need to test for their nutritional values for fish diet  formulation in order to ascertain their nutritional efficacy (Nwokocha, and Nwokocha, 2013).

This study focuses on expanding the unique properties of groundnut cake, guinea corn, fish waste and bone meal for fish diet formulation. A significant breakthrough in this research to produce feed that will yield corresponding nutritional value comparable with that of commercial feed will help to lessen the cost of feed, increase fish production and will also contribute immensely to the economy of the nation as well as contributing to scientific knowledge.

1.4       Aim and Specific Objectives of the Study

1.4.1     Aim

The aim of this study is to produce fish diet from local ingredients for optimum growth and development.

1.4.2    Objectives

The specific objectives are to;

i.           Determine the proximate composition of groundnut cake, fish waste, bone meal and guinea corn.

ii.         Formulate three diets of 45 % crude protein and determine the proximate composition of the diets.

iii.        Determine the amino acid composition of commercial feed (coppens) and formulated diets.

iv.       Determine the mineral composition of commercial feed and formulated diets.

v.         Compare the effects of locally formulated diets and commercial feed on the growth performance of catfish.

vi.        Determine  the  effects  of  the  formulated  diets  on  some  biochemical  and haematological parameters in catfish.

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