Haematological responses of replacement levels of fish meal with chicken offal in catfish (Clarias gariepinus) diets

Abstract

Fish demand by consumers keeps increasing, yet constraints to the production of fish are encountered, the commonest of which is the high cost and difficulty in acquiring fish feeds in Nigeria. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the formulated test diets of 40% protein concentrate using varying levels of chicken offal diets on the haematological parameters of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus). The chicken offal was used to replace fish meal at inclusion levels of 0% (control, treatment A), 25% (treatment B), 50% (treatment C), 75% (treatment D) and 100% (treatment E) respectively. Three hundred (300) fingerlings of average length, 8.12±0.48 cm, and average weight, 3.68±0.00 g, were stocked in concrete tanks. Fish were fed at 5 per cent body weight for 8 months. Physicochemical parameters including; water temperature (°C), pH, dissolved oxygen and ammonia were monitored every four days and maintained within acceptable ranges for fish culture. Data obtained were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed haemoglobin (Hb), Packed cell volume (PCV), Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) to be statistically different (ANOVA, p<0.05) between the treatments, although no significant difference (ANOVA, p>0.05) was observed in white blood cell (WBC), Mean Corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Haematological parameters results were within the ranges for fish well-being. Chicken offal were suitable as partial replacement at (25, 50, 75 and 100%) for fish meal, it enhanced the hematological performance of C. gariepinus due to its mineral components.