EVALUATION OF GROWTH AND BODY COMPOSITION OF Clarias gariepinus FINGERLINGS FED GRADED LEVELS OF Enterococcus faecium

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of Enterococcus faecium (Cylatin®), on the growth of Clarias
gariepinus. One hundred and fifty C. gariepinus fingerlings (mean weight, 9.13 ± 0.55g) were obtained from
Darugo Hatchery, Owerri. They were acclimated for 7days, fed with 2mm Commercial feed (Vital®) in 15L
rectangular plastic aquaria. Five diets (CP = 40%) were formulated containing the Probiotic at the
concentrations of 0, 0.5, 0.75, 1.00, and 1.25cfu of 100/g feed, designated as T0, T1, T2, T3, and T4Enterococcus
facecium diets respectively, with T0 as the control. Ten fish each were randomly assigned into the aquaria and fed
with the respective treatment in triplicates at 3% body weight daily for 84days. Mean feed intake for the treatments
were 51.94g, 43.35g, 38.14g, 42.85g, and 50.22g for treatments T0, T1, T2, T3, and T4 respectively. Results obtained
from mean weight gain and specific growth rate for diet T0 (34.66g and 1.86%) and T4 (36.34g and 1.92%) were
similar (P>0.05). Significant differences occurred amongst the treatments for the FCR, PER, and PPV (P<0.05).
The study proved that the commercial Enterococcus faecium can enhance the growth and nutrient composition of
Clarias gariepinus fingerlings especially at the higher levels of the Probiotic.