Abstract
The effects of boiled sunflower seed meal (BSSM) on the haematological parameters and serum biochemical indices of Clarias gariepinus juveniles were investigated for fifteen weeks. Boiled sunflower seed meal was substituted for soybean meal (SBM) at 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% in formulating six isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets. The formulated dietary treatments comprised 0% BSSM: 100% SBM, 20% BSSM: 80% SBM, 40% BSSM: 60% SBM, 60% BSSM: 40% SBM, 80% BSSM: 20% SBM and100% BSSM: 0% SBM respectively. Diets were fed twice daily, 07.00 - 08.00 and 17.00 – 18.00 hours, at 5% body weight to 360 C. gariepinus juveniles in eighteen rectangular tanks at the rate of 20 juveniles per tank in triplicate treatments. Blood samples collected from fish were analysed for haematological and serum biochemical parameters. Fish fed 40% BSSM inclusion had the highest PCV (31.67% ), Hb (10.40 gm/100ml), RBC (8.83 x 1012 /mL) and WBC (9.33 x109/mL) while those fed 60 to 100% BSSM had depressed values of PCV (21.00 to 22.00% ), Hb (6.90 to 7.20 gm/100ml), RBC (5.65 x 1012 /mL) and WBC (6.33 to 6.57 x109 /mL). Fish fed 40% BSSM had the highest total protein (3.60 ± 0.0 g/100 mL) and globulin (2.57 g/100 mL) while those fed 100% BSSM had reduced protein (2.3 ± 0.0 g/100 mL) and globulin (1.40 g/100 mL). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) varied between 27.67- 46.67 mg/dl and 31.67–72.00 mg/dl respectively and were statistically different (p < 0.05). Blood glucose varied between 51.33 and 84.00 mg/dl and fish fed above 20% BSSM inclusion had significant increase in blood glucose level except those fed at 100% BSSM inclusion. This study indicated that boiled sunflower seed meal could replace soybean meal up to 20% BSSM inclusion level in the diet of Clarias gariepinus without any deleterious effect on its blood parameters.Keywords: Clarias gariepinus, sunflower seed meal, soybean meal, haematology, serum biochemistry
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