Nutrient utilization and Hematological indices of hybrid catfish (Heteroclarias) fed variegated grasshopper meal (Zonocerus variegatus) Linn MEAL

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the nutrient utilization, digestibility and haematological indices of hybrid catfish fingerlings fed Zonocerus variegatus meal (ZVM) for 70 days. Six isonitrogenous diets were formulated in which ZVM was included in the diet at different inclusion levels - D1 (0%), D2 (10%), D3 (20%), D4 (30%), D5 (40%) and D6 (50%). Each treatment had three replicates, eighteen net hapa (0.5 × 0.5 × 1m) were suspended in three outdoor concrete tanks (8m×5m×1.5m). The concrete tanks were filled to 5/6 of its volume (40m3) with filtered and dechlorinated tap water, 20 fish with the initial average weight of 2.17±0.14 were stocked in each hapa. Water temperature and other water quality parameters were monitored daily. The result showed that Fish fed D4 had the highest value in all nutrient utilization parameters recorded and was significant (P<0.05) except for protein efficiency (PE) value which was not different with D2. However D6 had the lowest total feed intake (TFI), Protein retention (PR) but there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between D6 and D5. Fish fed D4 had the highest apparent digestibility co-efficient of crude protein and was significantly different from others, except for D3. D6 had the lowest significant value but was not significantly different from D5. D3 had the highest apparent digestibility co-efficient of crude lipid value but was not significantly different from D1, D2, and D4. However they were significant higher (p<0.05) than D5 and D6. The result of the hematological indices showed that there was increase in all the values of all the hematological indices measured as compared to the initial. From this study it could be concluded that 30% inclusion of ZVM in the diet of hybrid catfish could improve their nutrient utilization without any negative impact on their hematological indices