Biochemical, Haematology, Histopathology and Carcass Quality of Clarias gariepinus Post -Fingerling Fed Fresh and Dried Housefly Maggot

Abstract

This study examined the biochemical, histopathology, haematology and carcass quality of Clarias gariepinus post-fingerling fed fresh and dried housefly maggot meal for a period of 12 weeks. Three experimental groups of fish were fed with fresh and dried maggot and commercial fish feed as control. Proximate analysis of the maggot meal, carcass quality of fish fed maggot meal, biochemical analysis, haematological parameters and intestine histology of fish fed maggot meal together with control meal were all carried out using standard methods. The results of proximate analysis showed that dry maggot meal contains moisture (8.40%), ash (9.30%), crude fat (11.70%), fat/oil (17.90%), crude protein (28.80%) and carbohydrate (23.90%). The result of carcass quality shows that fish on control feed had the highest value of  total length, total weight, dressed weight, liver weight and fillet weight and the result is significantly different from other samples (p<0.05). While fish on dry maggot meal had the highest values of condition factor, hepatosomatic index and fillet yield and the result is significantly different from other samples (p<0.05). Fish on control feed had the highest values of dressing index. While haematological parameters showed that fish on dried maggot feed meal had the highest values of packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell, liver glycogen and plasma glucose. However, fish fed with fresh maggot meal gave the highest value of white blood cell.  Also, fish fed with control fish meal recorded the highest values of catalase and glutathione s-transferase and the result is significantly different from other samples (p<0.05). Intestine histology showed that fish on dry maggot meal performed better than others. Based on the results of the study, maggot meal competed positively in comparison with commercial fish feed. The cost of feed production was greatly reduced using maggot meal in comparison with commercial fish feed. Maggot meal can therefore serve as an alternative for commercial fish feed in aquaculture.