Research Article
Sogbesan OA, Ahmed YM, Ajijola
Abstract
Twelve weeks feeding experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of Ocimum gratissimum as additive in the diet of Clarias gariepinus. 40% isoproteic diet was formulated and fermented O. gratissimum was included at 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4%. The diets were coded T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 150 fingerlings of mean weight 3.54 ± 0.12 g and length 5.95 ± 0.12 cm were stocked in 15 circular tanks of diameter 0.55 m at the rate of 10 fingerlings per tank in wet laboratory of the Fisheries department. They were fed 5% bodyweight for 12 weeks. Highest mean weight gain of 26.21 was recorded in T1 and lowest of 22.60 g from T2 while specific growth rate ranged between 1.03–1.12%/day. Highest Feed intake of 26.50 g was recorded in T1 and lowest of 18.92 g in T5, feed conversion ratio of 1.01 was recorded highest in T1 and lowest (0.83) in T5 which are not significantly different (p>0.05) and protein intake of 10.73 was recorded highest in T1 and lowest of 7.73 in T5. Highest hepatosomatic of 1.66 was recorded in T5 and lowest of 0.76 in T2 and viscerosomatic was recorded highest in T4 with value of 12.12 and lowest of 7.03 in T1. The highest cost of feed with value of ₦39.50 was recorded in T1and T5 had the lowest value of 38.90, cost of feeding was recorded highest in T1 with value of ₦10.47 and lowest value was recorded in T5 with value of ₦7.53. the net profit of ₦45.53 was recorded as highest value in T1 and ₦41.90 which is lowest was recorded in T2, the profit index of ₦1.92 was recorded highest in T1 and ₦1.78 was recorded in T2 as the lowest value and lastly benefit cost ratio of ₦ 2.56 recorded highest in T5 and ₦2.47 which is lowest value was recorded in T2. T4 is therefore recommended for the health status, growth and cost benefit.