Evaluation of growth and body composition of <i>Clarias gariepinus</i> fingerlings fed graded levels of <i>Enterococcus faecium</i>

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of Enterococcus faecium (Cylatin®), on the growth of Clarias gariepinus. One hundred and fifty C. gariepinus fingerlings (mean weight, 9.13 ± 0.55g) were obtained from Darugo Hatchery, Owerri. They were acclimated for 7days, fed with 2mm Commercial feed (Vital®) in 15L rectangular plastic aquaria. Five diets (CP = 40%) were formulated containing the Probiotic at the concentrations of 0, 0.5, 0.75, 1.00, and 1.25cfu of 100/g feed, designated as T₀, T₁, T₂, T₃, and T₄ Enterococcus facecium diets respectively, with T0 as the control. Ten fish each were randomly assigned into the aquaria and fed with the respective treatment in triplicates at 3% body weight daily for 84days. Mean feed intake for the treatments were 51.94g, 43.35g, 38.14g, 42.85g, and 50.22g for treatments T₀, T₁, T₂, T₃, and T₄ respectively. Results obtained from mean weight gain and specific growth rate for diet T0 (34.66g and 1.86%) and T4 (36.34g and 1.92%) were similar (P>0.05). Significant differences occurred amongst the treatments for the FCR, PER, and PPV (P<0.05). The study proved that the commercial Enterococcus faecium can enhance the growth and nutrient composition of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings especially at the higher levels of the Probiotic.