Growth Performance of Clarias gariepinus Fingerlings Fed with Allium sativum Extract as Natural Feed Additives

Abstract

Fish is an important aspect of global dietary consumption and its demand makes it an important source of income and means of livelihood. 120 Clarias gariepinus fingerlings were sourced from Nagwamatse Farms Gusau, Zamfara State. They were acclimatized for 14 days and fed 4mm Bluecrown containing 45% crude protein diet at 3% body weight twice daily at 12hours interval and later subjected to varying concentrations of garlic extract for the period of twelve weeks. Cloves of garlic were sorted to remove the off types. Garlic dried scales were removed to allow easy air-dry in the laboratory. Dried samples were pulverized using mechanical blender. Ethanolic extraction was done using 100g of powdered samples to 500ml of ethanol. The extract was used to compound fish feed in three treatment (0.5%, 1% and 1.5%). The C. gariepinus samples were divided into eight groups (three treatments and a control with one replicates each). Water parameters were measured daily. The average highest mean weight gain was recorded in 1% extract treatment with 155.8±6.4 and the least mean weight was observed in the fish fed with 0.5g/kg of concentrates (140.5±8.73). C. gariepinus showed evidence of positive growth response however, high and very low concentrations of garlic extracts had lower positive growth response. Further research should be carried out on the physiological effects of high concentration, its durational effects and, palatability test to further ascertain its potency. The aim of this research study was to evaluate the growth performance of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed with diets containing varying concentrations of Allium sativum extract.