Application of organic acids in Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822 aquafeed: impacts on fish relative growth rate, condition factor and cannibalism ratio

Abstract

The present research was performed to determine the relative growth rate (RGR), condition factor (K) and cannibalism ratio (CR) of Catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822) fed different level and types of organic acid addition in the fish. Eighty fish were randomly assigned into five group triplicates, reared, and fed different type organic acid supplemented viz: control diet with no organic acid addition (B1); mixture of formic, acetic and propionic acid at level 0.05% (B2); mixture of formic, acetic and propionic acid at level 0.1% (B3); 0.05% butyric acid (B4); 0.1% butyric acid (B5), for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8th week, RGR, K, and CR were determined. Fish fed 0.1% mix of formic, acetic and propionic acid or 0.1% butyric acid in the diet had the significantly higher (p<0.05) RGR than control or other groups. Meanwhile, the K and CR of fish during the trial were not affected by any various and levels of the organic acid. In conclusion, the supplementation of 0.1% mix organic acid or 0.1% butyric acid in the diet of C. gariepinus for 8 weeks enhanced the RGR of the catfish but no effect on the condition factor and cannibalism ratio.