EFFECT OF OMEGA III FATTY ACID ON THE GROWTH OF HATCHERY BRED Clarias gariepinus

Abstract

Seventy-five (75), four weeks old hatchery bred Clarias gariepinus fingerlings were purchased and used for this resarch. The fingerlings were acclimated for five days in the tank and fed with fishmeal. Fingerlings were randomly distributed in fives into 15 bowls with a diameter of 54cm each. The bowls were randomly grouped in threes to form five treatments labelled 1-5 with three replicates each (A-C). Five different diets (I-V) with varying levels of omega III fatty acid inclusion were formulated and used to feed the fingerlings at a rate of 10% body weight. Diet 1 which was the control had no Omega III fatty acid inclusion. Diets 2-5 had 2000mg/Kg, 4000mg/Kg, 6000mg/Kg, 8000mg/Kg inclusion respectively. Length and weight were used as growth indices. These were measured weekly. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and means separated using Duncan’s multiple range tests. Result showed that there was significant difference (p<0.05) in growth, in response to the
five diets. Response to diet 3 was better than the others.