Growth performances, nutrient utilization and haematology of Clarias gariepinus juveniles fed varying concentrations of Gongronema latifolium leaf extracts

There had been growing interest in the use of extracts from different plants species to boost fish production. In this study Gongronema latifolium leaf extract was supplemented in a commercial diet of Clarias gariepinus juveniles at varying concentrations of 0.5g (T2), 1.0g (T3) and 1.5g (T4) per kg of feed while the control (T1) had no leaf extract. They were fed for 8weeks while growth performance and haematological data were collected and analysed. Proximate composition of the fish flesh was carried out after the feeding trials. The initial mean weight ranged between 9.0±0.5 to 9.0±0.7g, the best mean weight gain (14.3±2.0g) was observed in T3 while the least (12.3±6.2) in T2. Specific growth rate recorded was 5.4±0.4, 5.3±0.5, 5.4±0.1 and 5.3±0.2 for T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the survival rates among treatments. The best feed conversion ratio was observed in T3 and the control group. The results of haematological indices revealed that red blood count ranged between 3.0±0.1109cells/l in T3 to 33.61±0.2 109cells/l in T1, pack cell volume (38.9±1.3%) was best in T1, the least white blood cell (165.1±4.9109cells/l) in T4 while the highest level (169.8±1.3109cells/l) was recorded in (T1). The platelets and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration showed no significant difference amongst the treatments. The haematological results showed that the leaf extract enhanced the status of some of the haematological parameters such as the white blood cell. The proximate composition of the fish flesh was not significantly different amongst the treatments. The findings of this study also revealed that increase in the concentration of the leaf extract affected the acceptability of the feed hence a decline in growth. Considering the foregoing, G. latifolium leaf extract has shown to have some prospects in aquaculture when supplemented at various concentrations. Keywords: Gongronema latifolium, Clarias gariepinus, haematology, leaf extract, juvenile