Dietary Effects of Swizzle Stick (Rauvolfia vomitoria) Leaf Meal on Growth Performance, and Nutrient Utilisation of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fingerlings
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajff.v1i1.8332Keywords:
Carcass Composition, Clarias Gariepinus, Growth Performance, Physiological Responses, Rauvolfia VomitoriaAbstract
This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with Rauvolfia vomitoria leaf meal on the growth performance, nutrient utilisation, physiological responses, and carcass composition of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings during a 70-day feeding trial. A total of 225 fingerlings (initial mean weight: 3.95 ± 0.10 g) were randomly distributed into 15 glass tanks at a stocking density of 15 fish per tank, with each treatment replicated three times. Five experimental diets containing 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 g of R. vomitoria leaf meal per 100 g diet were formulated and designated as R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5, respectively. Dietary supplementation significantly influenced growth performance and nutrient utilisation. Fish fed the 1.0 g/100 g diet (R3) recorded the highest weight gain and best feed utilisation, while polynomial regression analysis identified 1.0 g/100 g diet as the optimum inclusion level for maximum growth. Higher supplementation levels resulted in reduced growth performance. Survival was high and unaffected by dietary treatment. Moderate inclusion of R. vomitoria leaf meal also improved selected haematological and serum biochemical indices, indicating enhanced physiological condition and nutrient metabolism. Carcass analysis revealed increased protein deposition and reduced lipid accumulation in fish fed the supplemented diets. These findings indicate that R. vomitoria leaf meal is an effective phytogenic feed additive for improving growth, feed efficiency, physiological status, and carcass quality in C. gariepinus fingerlings. An inclusion level of 1.0g/100 g diet is therefore recommended for optimal performance under the conditions of this study.
References
Abraham, S., Singh, A., & Singh, R. (2015). Growth performance and feed utilization of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) under different stocking densities. Aquaculture International, 23(6), 1659–1673.
Adeniyi, O. V., Norman, A. S., & Onojobi, S. (2023). Effects of dietary supplementation of Parkia biglobosa pulp on growth performance and physiological status of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology, 84, 19.
Association of Official Analytical Chemists. (2005). Official methods of analysis (18th ed.).
Awad, E., & Awaad, A. (2017). Role of medicinal plants on growth performance and immune status in fish. Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 67, 40–54.
Bhat, A. A., Wani, M. Y., & Kirmani, D. (2015). Phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Rauvolfia species: a review. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 4(3), 25–32.
Dawood, M. A. O., El Basuini, M. F., & Zaineldin, A. I. (2020). Antioxidant and immune responses of fish fed plant-derived functional ingredients. Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 98, 694–705.
Ekanem, N. J., Afolabi, K. D., Inyang, U. A., Enyenihi, G. E., Mbaba, E. N., Unah, U. L., Solomon, I. P., Ebenso, I. E., Udoh, J. E., Isaac, L. J., Eko, P. M., Assam, E. D., Jack, A. A., Okon, I. E., Etteh, U. D., Agwu, A. E., Okon, U. E., & Udo, A. L. (2025). Chemical composition of Rauvolfia vomitoria leaves as a feed resource for ruminant species. African Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Research, 17(1), 232–240.
Gholami-Ahangaran, M., Ziaei, M., & Mohammadi, S. (2022). Medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds: effects on lipid metabolism and biochemical responses in animals. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 8(4), 1545–1558.
Kumar, S., Kumari, D., & Singh, B. (2022). Genus Rauvolfia: a review of its ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, quality control/quality assurance, pharmacological activities and clinical evidence. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 295, 115327.
Marimuthu, V., Shanmugam, S., Sarawagi, A. D., Kumar, A., Kim, I. H., & Balasubramanian, B. (2022). A glimpse on influences of feed additives in aquaculture. eFood, 3, e6.
Morgan, J. D., & Iwama, G. K. (1997). Measurement of stressed states in the field. In G. K. Iwama, A. D. Pickering, J. P. Sumpter, & C. B. Schreck (Eds.), Fish stress and health in aquaculture (pp. 247–268). Society for Experimental Biology.
Oliva-Teles, A., Enes, P., & Peres, H. (2015). Replacing fishmeal and fish oil in industrial aquafeeds for carnivorous fish. In D. A. Davis (Ed.), Feed and feeding practices in aquaculture (pp. 203–233). Woodhead Publishing.
Svobodová, Z., Pravda, D., & Paláčková, J. (1991). Unified methods of haematological examination of fish. Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology.
Taştan, Y., & Salem, M. O. A. (2021). Use of phytochemicals as feed supplements in aquaculture:a review on their effects on growth, immune response and antioxidant status of finfish. Journal of Agricultural Production, 2(1), 1–12.
Van Hai, N. (2015). The use of medicinal plants as immunostimulants for aquaculture: a review. Aquaculture, 446, 77–89.
Zhou, Q. C., Buentello, A., & Gatlin, D. M. (2019). Cottonseed meal and phytogenic feed additives in aquaculture nutrition: effects on growth performance and physiological responses. Aquaculture Nutrition, 25, 1–12
