INVESTIGATION OF THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF UTILIZING CURRY LEAF (Murraya koenigii) AND SCENT LEAF (Ocimum gratissimmum) AS FEED ADDITIVES ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF Clarias gariepinus FRY

Abstract

Fish farmers rely heavily on proper nutrition to raise healthy fish. This is a function of the protein condition and additives contained in their diet. Thus, the present study was conducted to investigate the potential effects of utilizing curry leaf (Murraya koenigii) and scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) as feed additives on the growth performance of Clarias gariepinus fry. Following twenty-four hours acclimatization, 240 fry were randomly divided in triplicate into four treatments 20 fish per bowl and fed for 48days. In treatment 1, fry fed with control basal diet (no curry and scent leaf), in treatment 2, fry were fed with basal diet containing 1% curry leaf powder. In treatment 3, fry were fed with basal diet containing 1% scent leaf powder, while in treatment 4: fry were fed with basal diet supplemented with 0.5% curry leaf powder and 0.5% scent leaf powder. Fish were fed twice a day and every 14 days, fish sampling was done which entailed counting of the fry in each treatment and measurements were also taken. Results of the study shows in Treatment 1 had the best growth performance in terms of weight gain (3.630g), absolute growth rate (0.07562g/day), growth performance index (7.563), Feed conversion ratio (1.180) which was significantly different from Treatments 2  and 3  in terms of weight (2.473g), absolute growth rate(0.05140g/day), growth performance index (5.079) and feed conversion ratio (1.26).In conclusion, C.gariepinus fry fed 0.5% curry leaf powder and 0.5% scent leaf powder had better growth, feed conversion ratio and feed utilization.It is therefore recommended that  T4(0.5% curry and 0.5%scent leaf) should be used to feed of C.gariepinus  to improve feed utilization and growth performance