Effects of Varying Levels of Ocimum gratissimum Leaf Powder on Growth Performance and Feed Utilization of Heterobranchus bidorsalis Fingerlings

Abstract

Abstract
Growth performance and feed utilization of Heterobranchus bidorsalis fingerlings fed
varying inclusion levels of diets supplemented with Ocimum gratissimum leaf powder were
assessed in the study. Apparently healthy H. bidorsalis fingerlings (12.05g ± 0.01) were
randomly divided into five treatment groups representing iso-nitrogenous diets (about 40%
crude protein) containing varying inclusion levels 0g/100g (control), 0.5g/100g, 1.0g/100g,
1.5g/100g, and 2.0g/100g of O. gratissimum leaves denoted as CTR, OG1, OG2, OG3 and
OG4 respectively. The fish were fed these diets for 70 days in triplicate. The experimental
fish were randomly distributed into fifteen plastic tanks of dimension 40 ×30×35cm3 at a
stocking density often fish pertank.Heterobranchus bidorsalisfingerlingsfed 1.5g/100g diet of
O. gratissimum recorded the best growth performance in terms of body weight gain, feed
conversion ratio (FCR) and specific growth rate (SGR). There was a significant increase in
growth and nutritional performance of H. bidorsalis fingerlings with increasing inclusion of O.
4 3 2
gratissimum leaves (P<0.05). A differential equation (y = -15.227x + 53.533x - 54.453x +
17.887x + 22.07; R² = 1) showed that highest weight gain occurred at O. gratissimum level of
approximately 1.65 g/100g. The study therefore showed that O. gratissimum leaves as an additive
significantlyimprovedgrowth and feed utilizationparametersinthe treatedgroups.Abstract
Growth performance and feed utilization of Heterobranchus bidorsalis fingerlings fed
varying inclusion levels of diets supplemented with Ocimum gratissimum leaf powder were
assessed in the study. Apparently healthy H. bidorsalis fingerlings (12.05g ± 0.01) were
randomly divided into five treatment groups representing iso-nitrogenous diets (about 40%
crude protein) containing varying inclusion levels 0g/100g (control), 0.5g/100g, 1.0g/100g,
1.5g/100g, and 2.0g/100g of O. gratissimum leaves denoted as CTR, OG1, OG2, OG3 and
OG4 respectively. The fish were fed these diets for 70 days in triplicate. The experimental
fish were randomly distributed into fifteen plastic tanks of dimension 40 ×30×35cm3 at a
stocking density often fish pertank.Heterobranchus bidorsalisfingerlingsfed 1.5g/100g diet of
O. gratissimum recorded the best growth performance in terms of body weight gain, feed
conversion ratio (FCR) and specific growth rate (SGR). There was a significant increase in
growth and nutritional performance of H. bidorsalis fingerlings with increasing inclusion of O.
4 3 2
gratissimum leaves (P<0.05). A differential equation (y = -15.227x + 53.533x - 54.453x +
17.887x + 22.07; R² = 1) showed that highest weight gain occurred at O. gratissimum level of
approximately 1.65 g/100g. The study therefore showed that O. gratissimum leaves as an additive
significantly improved growth and feed utilization parameters in the treated groups.