Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Eucalyptus globulus leaves in the diet of Heterobranchus bidorsalis Fingerlings

ABSTRACT

This project work was carried out to determine the Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Eucalyptus globulus leaves in the diet of Heterobranchus bidorsalis Fingerlings. Growth and nutrient utilization was studied for 70 days in 50 liters rectangular plastic tanks. Tanks were grouped into five (5) treatments in triplicates (ControlR1-3), (EG1R1-3), (EG2R1-3), (EG3R1-3) and (EG4R1-3). One hundred and fifty (150) fingerlings of Heterobranchus bidorsalis used were randomly distributed at a stocking density of ten fish per tank. Fingerlings of Heterobranchus bidorsalis (mean initial weight 12.24±0.01g) were fed with five iso-nitrogenous diets (40% crude protein) prepared with E. globulus leaves at varying inclusion levels of 0% (Control), 0.5% (EG1), 1.0% (EG2), 1.5% (EG3) and 2.0% (EG4) at 5% body weight with the formulated diets to determine the growth performance and nutrient utilization. Length and weight of fish samples were measured every two (2) weeks and used as growth parameters. At the end of the experiment, fish fed with no inclusion level of E. globulus leaves (Control) gave the highest growth performance and nutrient utilization (21.18±3.88g), closely followed by the fish fed with the inclusion level of 0.5% of E. globulus leaves (EG1) (19.75±0.61g). All data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance and means were separated using Duncans multiple range test. There were no significant differences (P ≥ 0.05) in the weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio in fish fed with no inclusion level of E. globulus leaves compared to other treatments. The result obtained revealed that an increase in the inclusion level of E. globulus, beyond 0.5% results in a decline in growth rate of Heterobranchus bidorsalis fingerlings. There were significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in the survival rate of fish fed with 0.5% and 1.0% inclusion level of E. globulus leaves when compared with other treatments. The best survival rate (100%) was observed in 0.5% and 1.0% inclusion level of E. globulus leaves. There were no significant differences (P ≥ 0.05) in the carcass characteristics (including the Dressing Percentage, Flesh Percentage, By-Product Percentage and Hepatosomatic Index) of the treatments when compared with the Control. Fish fed with 0.5% inclusion level of E. globulus leaves had the highest flesh percentage (99.01±0.13) when compared with other treatments. Fish fed with 1.5% inclusion level of E. globulus leaves had the highest by-product percentage (47.24±0.74) when compared with other treatments. Fish fed with 2.0% inclusion level of E. globulus leaves had the highest Hepatosomatic Index (1.01±0.12) when compared with other treatments. The inclusion level of 0.5% and 1.0% in Heterobranchus bidorsalis fingerlings improved the survival rate. It is therefore concluded that the optimum inclusion level of E. globulus leaves to achieve maximum growth is 0.5%.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENT

CERTIFICATION                                                                                                               ii

DEDICATION                                                                                                                      iii

AKNOWLEDGEMENT                                                                                                     iv

ABSTRACT                                                                                                                          v-vi

TABLE OF CONTENT                                                                                                      vii-ix

LIST OF TABLES                                                                                                               x

LIST OF PLATES                                                                                                               xi

CHAPTER ONE                                                                                                                  1

1.0       INTRODUCTION                                                                                                     1

            1.1       JUSTIFICATION                                                                                          5

            1.2       OBJECTIVES                                                                                                            6

CHAPTER TWO                                                                                                                 7

2.0       LITERATURE REVIEW                                                                                          7

2.1       CLASSIFICATION OF HETEROBRANCHUS SPECIES                                    7

            2.2       BIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF HETEROBRANCHUS                     8

            2.3       BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS INFLUENCING THE SELECTION OF HETEROBRANCHUS SPECIESFOR AQUACULTURE                                                            9

            2.4       NUTRIENTS REQUIREMENT OF HETEROBRANCHUS SPECIES     11

            2.5       ARTIFICIAL FEEDS I SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDSTUFF                      11

            2.6       Eucalyptus globulus                                                                                        14

                        2.6.1    Scientific classification of Eucalyptus globulus                                  15

CHAPTER THREE                                                                                                             17

3.0       MATERIALS AND METHODS                                                                              17

            3.1       EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP                                                                          17

            3.2       COLLECTION AND PREPARATION OF PLANT MATERIALS                       17

            3.3       PREPARATION OF EXPERIMENTAL DIETS                                         17

            3.4       PROCUREMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL FISH AND FEEDING TRIAL            19

            3.5       MONITORING OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS                         19

            3.6       GROWTH PERFORMANCE                                                                       20

                        3.6.1    Weight Gain                                                                                        20

                        3.6.2    Percentage Weight Gain                                                                     20

                        3.6.3    Specific Growth Rate                                                                         20

                        3.6.4    Condition Factor (K)                                                                          20

                        3.6.5    Survival Rate (%)                                                                                20

            3.7       FEED UTILIZATION                                                                                   21

                        3.7.1    Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)                                                            21

                        3.7.2    Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER)                                                          21

                        3.7.3    Energy Utilization (EU)                                                                      21

                        3.7.4    Feed Efficiency Ratio (FER)                                                              21

                        3.7.5    Apparent Protein Utilization (APU)                                                   21

            3.8       CARCASS CHARACERISTICS                                                                 21

                        3.8.1    Dressing Percentage                                                                            21

                        3.8.2    By-Product Percentage                                                                       22

                        3.8.3    Flesh Percentage                                                                                 22

                        3.8.4    Hepatosomatic Index                                                                          22

            3.9       PROXIMATE ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTAL FISH                          22

                        3.9.1    Crude Protein Content                                                                                    22

                        3.9.2    Lipid Content                                                                                     23

                        3.9.3    Moisture Content                                                                                23

                        3.9.4    Ash                                                                                                      23

                        3.9.5    Carbohydrate                                                                                      24

            3.10     STATISTICAL ANALYSIS                                                                         24

CHAPTER FOUR                                                                                                                25

4.0       RESULTS                                                                                                                   25

4.1       Proximate Composition of Eucalyptus globulus leaves                                  25

4.2       Water Quality Parameters                                                                               26

4.3       Proximate Analysis of the Experimental Diet                                    27

4.4       Proximate Composition of H. bidorsalis fingerlings prior to feeding 29

4.5       Proximate Analysis of the Experimental Fish                                     30

4.6       Mean Growth Performance and Feed Utilization of H. bidorsalis Fingerlings Fed            Experimental Diets for 70 days                                                                      32

4.7       Carcass Characteristics of the Experimental Fish                                           34

CHAPTER FIVE                                                                                                                 35

5.0       DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION                                                                      35

5.1       DISCUSSION                                                                                                            35

            5.1.1    Water Quality Parameters                                                                   35

            5.1.2    Proximate Composition of Experimental Diet                                    35

5.1.3    Proximate Composition of Experimental fish fed with E. globulus Supplemented Diet                                                                                    36

            5.1.4    Growth Performance and Feed Utilization                                        36

            5.1.5    Carcass Characteristics of the Fish                                                     38

5.2       CONCLUSION                                                                                             40