Use of fluted pumpkin (<i>Telfairia occidentalis</i>) leaf powder as feed additive in African catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) fingerlings

Abstract

The effect of dietary Telfairia occidentalis leaf meal on growth,  heamatological profile and body composition was investigated in African catfish Clarias gariepinus. Fingerlings of about 5 g were fed diets supplemented with four concentrations (5, 10, 15 and 20 g kg^-1) of T. occidentalis leaf powder for eight weeks. Fish fed supplemented diets showed significantly improved growth performance, haematological  parameters and feed utilization over the control (0 g kg^-1 T. occidentalis leaf meal) treatment. The highest specific growth rate (7.33 ± 2.37% day^–1) and best food conversion ratio (0.86 ± 0.06) were obtained in the 5 g kg^-1 T. occidentalis leaf meal diet treatment. Protein efficiency ratio was higher in fish fed with T. occidentalis leaf meal and lowest in the control. No differences occurred in fish carcass moisture, protein or ash content among
the treatments (p > 0.05). The results suggest that dietary   supplementation with T. occidentalis leaf powder improved growth; feed utilization and survival of C. gariepinus fingerlings.

Keywords: Medicinal plant, growth performance, blood parameters, carcass composition, mudfish.