Growth performance and survival of larval catfish (clarias gariepinus) fed on diets with two local immunostimulants (garlic and cinnamon)

Abstract

The study below aimed at examining the effect of dietary supplementation with cinnamon and garlic powder on growth performance and immune response of catfish larvae at 3-28 dph. A total of 500 catfish larvae (0.05g ABW) were randomly assigned to three treatments for 30 days feeding period; group I (control group) received normal basal diet, group II (Cinnamon group) fed with basal diets containing 1% and 5 % cinnamon powder, and group III (Garlic group) fed with basal diets containing 1% and 5 % garlic powder at a rate of 7% of their body weight. Growth performance, length, percentage feed efficiency, feed conversion ratio, mean weight and survival were determined. Results: Results of this study revealed that dietary supplementation with 1% garlic significantly increased the final body weight and percentage weight gain followed by group fed 1% cinnamon compared with control group fed basal diet only (P=0.21). SGR, FE, and FCR in cinnamon and garlic groups recorded a significant variance in comparison with the control. In addition both cinnamon and garlic groups showed significant increase in survival of the catfish larvae in comparison with control group.