Effect of garlic as feed additives on the growth performance of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Abstract

A 56 days feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacement of synthetic vitamin-mineral premix with wet and dry garlic on the performance of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (2.16g±0.04). Three diets were formulated at 45% crude protein with inclusion of garlic (wet and dry forms) at 5% replacement level of the synthetic vitamin-mineral premix. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the growth performance of the fishes. Diet containing 5% dry garlic had the best growth performance in terms of specific growth rate, mean weight gain, protein efficiency ratio and feed conversion ratio than the control diet. Therefore, the use of dry garlic at 5% inclusion level has the potential of improving on the growth performance of catfish.