Evaluating the Efficacy of Pituitary Gland Extracts and Ovaprim in Induced Breeding and Fry Quality of Clarias gariepinus, Burchell (Pisces: Claridae)

Abstract

This study compared the effectiveness of Ovaprim and pituitary gland extract (PGE) in induced spawning of the African mud catfish, Clarias gariepinus, using reproductive output and fry quality indices. At a mean temperature of 26.0 ±0.700C, latency period for Ovaprim and PGE were 613 and 745 minutes, respectively. Workers fecundity was significantly higher (p<0.05) for brooders treated with Ovaprim (36086.00 ±7215.50eggs) than PGE induced spawners (20978.00 ±6782.15 eggs). Hatching rates also followed the same trend, in which significantly higher hatching success was recorded for Ovaprim ovulated eggs (83.5%) than PGE induced eggs (63.7%). Fry survival rate was 81.90 ±1.10% for Ovaprim treated fish, while PGE induced fish fry had 77.73±1.33%; percentage deformed fry was significantly minimal for Ovaprim treated. However, all Ovaprim-treated spent fish died few hours post stripping, contrary to PGE spent brooders that were fully recovered. Production cost analyses revealed that the use of Ovaprim resulted in about 25% cost reduction. It is thus concluded that Ovaprim is superior to PGE in induction of breeding in Clarias gariepinus. This notwithstanding, the mortality suffered by all the spent fish treated with Ovaprim raises food safety concerns. This however, needs to be validated.