Dietary effect of siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) leaves on the growth performance, reproductive indices, intestinal morphology, and blood profile of Clarias gariepinus broodstocks

Authors

Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Nigeria

10.22092/ijfs.2025.134258

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) leaves meal (SWLM) on the growth performance, reproductive indices, intestinal morphology, and blood profiles of African sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) broodstocks. One hundred and twenty male and female broodstocks with an average body weight of 450±0.01g were obtained for the experiment and allocated into 12 experimental fiber tanks at 10 fish per tank (5 males and 5 females). Six diets were formulated (40% crude protein) with different inclusion levels of SWLM; 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90% denoted as the control, SWLM2, SWLM3, SWLM4, SWLM5, and SWLM6 diets, respectively. The fish were fed twice daily at 3% body weight with replicated twice, for 56 days. The results showed that the fish fed with experimental diets significantly improved growth performance, such as weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio. The reproductive indices were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the fish fed with SWLM compared to the control group. The dietary groups treated with SWLM at 30%, 60%, and 90% improved growth performance, intestinal morphology, reproductive indices, and blood profiles of C. gariepinus. The results of the intestinal morphology also showed that SWLM had a significant effect (p<0.05) on the broodstocks. In conclusion, incorporating SWLM in the diets can improve growth performance, blood profiles, intestinal morphology, and reproductive indices in the catfish broodstocks.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 5
September 2025
Pages 1141-1157

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