Effect of Gliricidia sepium (Jacq) Leaf Meal Supplemented with Enzymes (Roxazyme® G2 and Maxigrain®) on Growth Performance of Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822

Abstract

The growth performance of Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822 fed Gliricidia sepium leaf meal and supplement with enzymes (Roxazyme®) and Maxigrain® were examined. The fingerlings having weight of about 6.34±0.43 g were stocked in12 plastic aquaria with 50 liters capacity at the rate of 25 juvenile per aquarium and fed on four different dietary treatments for 42 days. The experimental diets varied with increasing levels of G. sepium leaf meal, 0%, 10% without enzyme supplementation, 10% supplemented with enzyme (Roxazyme G2), and 10% supplemented with enzyme (Maxigrain). The growth performance, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCE) and water quality were evaluated during and by the end of trial. The results showed that all experimental treatments promoted positive growth and no mortality was encountered during the experimental period. However, theFinal Body Weight (FBW) of C. gariepinus was found to differ significantly among fed experimental treatments. C. gariepinus fed with T4 had the highest significant (P< 0.05) FBW (14.15 g), followed by T3 (12.58 g) and T1 (12.10 g) whereas least FBW was recorded in C. gariepinus fed T2 (10.49 g). C. gariepinus fed with T4 had higher WG which was found to be significantly different from other treatments while no significant difference (P> 0.05) in WG was found amongT1 and T3 and the least WG was recorded in C. gariepinus fed T2. C. gariepinus fed T2 had the highest significant (P<0.05) value of FCR followed by T1 and T3 while the least significant (P<0.05) value FCR was recorded in C. gariepinus fed T4. Mean temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) ranges from 26.1°C to 28.10C, 6.89 to 8.13 and 1.9 mg/l to 8.13 respectively while the ammonia value varied from 0.21 mg/l to 0.67 mg/l. Therefore, it can be concluded that G. sepium can be used up to 10% supplement with enzyme in the diets of C. gariepinus at fingerlings stage with good performance with better quality of water.