Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilisation of Clarias gariepinus fed Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Based-Diet

Abstract

Dietary supplementation with herbal extract and plant-based additives in aquaculture has been noted for various beneficial roles; to increase fish production through the improvement of immunity and other physiological dysfunctions related to fish health. A 56 days feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and nutrient utilization of Clarias gariepinus juveniles fed turmeric (Curcuma longa) based diet. Ten fish were stocked in twelve tanks each subjected to four treatments with three replicates. Four experimental treatments were formulated with varying Curcuma longa concentration included at 0% (Control), 1%, 3% and 5% with the treatments designated as D1 (Control), D2, D3 and D4 respectively. The growth performances, nutrients utilisation as well as the effects of the diets on the water quality were determined. Fish fed D4 with an inclusion level of 5% C. longa gave the least growth performance in terms of mean weight gain (MWG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake, and protein efficiency ratio (PER). Fish fed D2 with an inclusion level of 1% of C. longa had the best food conversion ratio (FCR) and followed by the fish fed D3 which had 3% inclusion of C. longa. The FCR of the fish fed D2 and D3 were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the fish fed other diets. Based on this study, it was concluded that the inclusion of turmeric in the diet of Clarias gariepinus should be minimized specifically within the range of 1% to 3% to enhance growth performance and improve nutrient utilization of the fish.