Therapeutic Efficacy of Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp) Root as Growth and Profertility Agent on the Reproductive Indices of Clarias gariepinus Broodstock

Abstract

The nutritional composition and dietary effects of medicinal plants on aquatic animals have been ascertained through the improvement of the sexual performance of the fish leading to the production of improved egg quality and enhancing the fertility of sperm. The study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Maca Root Meal (MRM) on the growth and pro-fertility agent of C. gariepinus broodstock. Eighty C. gariepinus (400±0.01g) were used for the experiment. They were fed 5 compounded diets at different inclusion levels (0.0, 12.5, 25, 37.5 and 50%) and denoted as MRM1 – MRM5 respectively of 40% crude protein at 3% body weight with 8 fish (4 males and 4 females) per treatment, replicate twice for 56 days. Measurements were taken on growth performance and reproductive indices at the end of feeding trials. The results showed that body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and production productive index were significantly higher (P<0.05) in MRM 4 compared to the control and other treated groups. The reproductive indices such as milt volume, motility duration, sperm counts, the weight of ovary, relative fecundity, hatchability and percentage fertilization were significant higher (P<0.05) in the treated groups when compared to the control. MRM5 recorded higher hatchability and percentage fertilization of 81.78 and 84.27% compared to the control of 62.11 and 71.53% respectively and there was a significant difference (P<0.05) among the dietary groups. Conclusively, the study revealed the therapeutic potential of maca root as growth and pro-fertility agent and that inclusion of 50% maca root meal in the diet of C. gariepinus broodstock could increase weight gain and better reproductive indices in male and female C. gariepinus broodstock.