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The growth performance, nutrient utilization and health status of Cyprinus carpio fed various levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal as a replacement for soybean meal was investigated. Six isonitrogenous diets were formulated with Moringa oleifera leaf meal at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% or 50% crude protein replacement. The diets were fed to the fish at 5% body weight to 360 Cyprinus carpio juveniles (8.12±0.21 g) allotted to 18 happas (1 m3) in a completely randomized design for 12 weeks. The results revealed that crude protein replacement levels of 30% had significantly better final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and feed conversion ratio, while survival rates were not significantly different. Also, haematological, biochemical and immune responses of the fish fed Moringa oleifera leaf meal fortified diets were significantly improved. The results further suggest that higher inclusion replacement is possible but opined that, for growth and economic consideration, Moringa oleifera leaf meal could be used to replace 30% crude protein of soybean in the diet of Cyprinus carpio juveniles.

The performance of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) fingerlings reared in white, green, blue, black and red coloured tanks was investigated. Each colour was tested in triplicate 1 m3 tanks with an initial stocking density of 100 fingerlings per tank (1.07 g). Fish were fed a commercial diet at 5% body weight per day for eight weeks. Fish weights were sampled every 2 weeks to adjust feeding rates. Tank colour had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on the overall performance of the fingerlings. Rearing in black tanks resulted in a higher daily feed intake (0.44 g) and better growth performance when compared to other tank colours, while the poorest performance was observed in blue and green tanks. Carcass protein and fat content at 8 weeks revealed a trend similar to that observed for growth. Also, serum glucose tests showed higher levels in light background tanks and were thought to be an indication of stress. Survival was not affected by tank colour. It was concluded that dark-coloured tanks such as black or red were better in comparison to light-coloured tanks for the rearing of African catfish fingerlings

This study was conducted to determine the effect of storage conditions on the quality of feed and the aftermath effect of feeding fish with such feeds. Three commercial diets used for this study included Coppens®, Multifeed® and Vital feed®. Feed was stored either by opening the bag to the atmosphere (WO), the bag opened with neck tied using a rubber ring to prevent exposure to the atmosphere (OT) or sealed (SC) until the start of the feeding trials. The feed was stored under these conditions for six months. Nutrient analyses revealed significant changes in feeds held under the WO condition when compared with other storage conditions. Nutritive changes also varied with commercial feed type. Mould infestation of the feed was noticeable more in the WO condition of storage compared to the SC condition. After feeding C. gariepinus for fifty-six days, lesions were observed on fish fed mouldy feed held under the WO condition, which led to mass mortalities. Growth performance was higher in all fish fed SC stored feed, and for those fed Coppens® and Multifeed® under OT storage conditions. It is advised that storage of fish feeds up to six months should be undertaken with considerable care and attention.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different water change frequency on the growth of African catfish Clarias gariepinus. Fingerlings with initial mean weights of 7.02 ± 0.05g were stocked (50 fish each) in fifteen concrete tanks (2×2×2m) and were conditioned under five different treatments of water renewal, namely: TRT1 (no water change), TRT2 (water renewed daily), TRT3 (water renewed after four days), TRT4 (water renewed after eight days) and TRT5 (water renewed after fourteen days). After 56 days of feeding, results revealed best growth performance of fingerlings in tanks with water renewal frequency of TRT3 and TRT4. Similarly, survival was higher in these frequencies compared to the others; the control treatment, however, had the least performance for all parameters measured. It is therefore recommended that water renewal should be done once between four and eight days to enhance growth of African catfish fingerlings reared in a static system.

This study evaluated the effects of cooking for different hydrothermal-treatment durations (10, 20, 30 and 40 min) on the proximate composition, amino acid profile, fatty acid composition and organoleptic parameters of filets of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822). Filets of the fish were prepared from market size African catfish with similar breeding history. Parameters of the processed filet under the different hydrothermal durations were also compared against a raw-unprocessed control group except during organoleptic analysis. The results obtained revealed a significant increase in protein, fat and ash content until the 30th minute of hydrothermal processing (p ≤ 0.05). Beyond this processing time, protein and fat significantly reduced while ash remains unaffected. The same trend was observed for most essential/non-essential amino acids isolated as well as the prominent saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. In all, the raw control group consistently recorded the least values of nutritional components. The perception of assessors was, however, found to be similar (p ≥ 0.05) in terms of organoleptic parameters regardless of the duration of the processing time of the filets. It was concluded that cooking the African catfish filet using the hydrothermal method should not be extended beyond 30 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth performance of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) juveniles fed differently processed toad meal based diets was investigated in this study. Toads were collected, gutted, washed and processed into meals using four different methods, namely: oven drying at 60 oC (treatment 1); oven drying at 100 oC (treatment 2); removal of the skin and parotid gland before oven drying at 60 °C (treatment 3); and fermentation for 3 days before oven drying at 60 °C (treatment 4). Five isonitrogenous diets of 35% crude protein were formulated with inclusions of the processed toad meals (treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4) and a control diet with inclusion of fish meal (treatment 5). These were fed to juveniles of C. gariepinus (mean weight 13.08 ± 0.01 g) for 56 days. The results reveal that treatment 3 gave the best growth parameters, even more than the control diet with inclusion of fishmeal. This is further supported by the result of carcass analysis which revealed a similar trend. The cost analysis also confirms the superiority of treatment 3 over the other treatments due to its ability to produce 1 kg of fish with far less money than the other diets. The least growth indices, carcass protein and cost effectiveness were observed with dietary inclusions of fermented toad meal (treatment 4). It was therefore concluded that dietary inclusions of skinned and deglanded toad meal improves performance and production characteristics of the African catfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orange pulp is a large by-product of orange processing industries, hence an important source of unconventional feeds stuff of agro by-product origin, however, it contain antinutritional factors which limits it utilization on a large scale in animal nutrition, this study seeks to improve the nutritional value of orange pulp meal though hydrothermal processing. Fresh orange pulp were collected from orange sellers in Makurdi town, and divided into five batches, four of these batches were subjected to varying period of hydrothermal processing namely, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes, while one of batch was kept as control without processing. Result reveals significant reduction in Oxalate, Tannin and Phytic acid as the time of processing progressed, however, crude protein increased till the 10th min and significantly reduced thereafter, contrary to this, fat and Ash significantly reduce as the time increases, nutritional trials with various animals are recommended to evaluate feed utilization as a result of this processing method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aim to study the spawning performance of African catfish induced with ovaprim serially diluted with 9% saline and coconut water at ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, 1:7, 1:8 and 1:9 with 1:0 serving as the control, latency period was standardized using recommended time by the manufacturer. For saline water, egg hosed out with ease only for dilution of 1:1 and with harder press striping was possible till 1:7 beyond which stripping was not possible, however using coconut water, eggs hosed out with ease up to 1:4 while harder press made striping possible till the last dilution (1:9). Fertilization decreased significantly (P > 0.05) as the dilution increases with both diluents. Hatching was presumed complete at about 28 hours after fertilization. Result obtained show that hatchability decreased with increasing dilution with saline while there was no statistical change in values obtain with coconut water up to 1:3 however value decreased thereafter, the study shows that hatchery operation for African catfish can use coconut water and saline water as diluents up to 1:4 and 1:1 dilution respectively at normal latency period without significant effect on spawning performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of cooking for different hydrothermal-treatment durations (10, 20, 30 and 40 min) on the proximate composition, amino acid profile, fatty acid composition and organoleptic parameters of filets of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822). Filets of the fish were prepared from market size African catfish with similar breeding history. Parameters of the processed filet under the different hydrothermal durations were also compared against a raw-unprocessed control group except during organoleptic analysis. The results obtained revealed a significant increase in protein, fat and ash content until the 30th minute of hydrothermal processing ( p ≤ 0.05). Beyond this processing time, protein and fat significantly reduced while ash remains unaffected. The same trend was observed for most essential/non-essential amino acids isolated as well as the prominent saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. In all, the raw control group consistently recorded the least values of nutritional components. The perception of assessors was, however, found to be similar ( p ≥ 0.05) in terms of organoleptic parameters regardless of the duration of the processing time of the filets. It was concluded that cooking the African catfish filet using the hydrothermal method should not be extended beyond 30 min.