The Probiotics, Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Diets of Clarias gariepinus Improve Feed Utilization and Growth

The study evaluated effects of incorporating different proportions of probiotics, Lactobacillus acidophilus (LAC) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SAC) in diets of Clarias gariepinus for improved growth and feed utilization. Six isonitrogenous (34% protein) diets were compounded with varying probiotic inclusion ratios (LAC: SAC) as followed: F1 (0:25%); F2 (25:0%); F3 (15:10%); F4 (10:15%); F5 (5:20%) and F6 (12.5:12.5%). The diets were mixed, preconditioned and steam pelleted at 100oC. Fish (average weight 35.16 ± 2.32g) were stocked at 15 fish per 80-liter aquarium tank and fed the experimental diets ad libitum for 60 days. Results showed that catfish fed with F2 (25% LAC and 0% SAC) had the best feed conversion ratio of 1.72±0.04, specific growth rate, 5.00±0.24 %/day, average weight gain 19.13±0.04g, final weight 56.46±0.08g and protein efficiency ratio of 0.59±0.02. Fish fed F1 (25% SAC and 0% LAC) achieved about half the growth and nutritional parameters of those fed diet F2. Growth performance increased with increasing inclusion level of LAC. However, fish fed F6 had a better specific growth rate than other mixtures except for those in F2 group. It could be inferred that reduced inclusion of SAC seemed beneficial to catfish. Keywords: Probiotics, lactic acid bacteria, yeast, gut microbiome, African catfis