Evaluation of milt quality of Clarias anguillaris (Linnaeus, 1758) Broodstock fed varying inclusion levels of wild hibiscus Azanza garckeana pulp meal

Feeding trial was carried out to evaluate sperm quality of Clarias anguillaris broodstock fed varying inclusion levels of goron tula, Azanza garckeana pulp meal. The fish (mean weight 500g) were randomly distributed in concrete tanks (2 x 2 x 1.2m) at nine fish/tank in triplicates. Five isonitrogenous diets (40% CP) were formulated with the pulp meal incorporated at the rate of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% of the diet. Fish were fed at 3% of body weight for 56days. At the end of the feeding trial, results showed that dietary A. garckeana significantly (p<0.05) improved the milt quality of C. anguillaris. The broodfish fed 20% A. garckeana inclusion level had the highest (p<0.05) milt volume, sperm motility duration, testes lobe lengths, and whole sperm count while the least values of these variables were observed in group fed with the control diet (0% inclusion level). The findings conclusively revealed that increase in the level of A. garckeana pulp meal in the diet resulted into increase in sperm quality of C. anguillaris. Thus, the pulp meal can be freely utilized in catfish production in terms of sperm quality for mass fingerling production. Keywords: A. garckeana, Clarias anguillaris, sperm count, motility duration, milt volume