Effects of Basil Leaf ( Ocimum gratissimum ) as Dietary Additives on Growth Performance and Production Economics of Clarias gariepinus

Synthetic antibiotics have been widely used in fish culture systems as performance enhancers and controlling stress. These antibiotics are expensive and induce microbial resistance with consequent environmental effects. Phytogenic plants have potential as alternative antibiotics, but there is little information on their utilization in fish nutrition. Therefore the evaluation of Basil ( Ocimum gratissimum ) leaf meal on the growth response, nutrient utilization and production economics of Clarias gariepinus . In a 12 week feeding experiment, juveniles (n =20, weight:10.94±0.02 g) were used to assess the effect of different concentrations of Ocimum gratissimum at OGM1- OGM6; (0.00; 0.125; 0.25; 0.5; 0.10; 2.00%). A total of 120 fish were randomly allotted into treatments in triplicates, fed twice daily at 5% body weight in completely randomized design. Data for the growth and nutrient utilization parameters such as: Total weight gain (TWG), Total final weight (TFW); Mean weight Gain (MWG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR); and economic indices such as profit indices, (PI), were determined. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α 0.05 . The highest TWG and FWG (916.67 ±17.98 g; 698.83±17.54 g) was from the fish fed OGM2 diet and the least (137.92±2.97 g; -81.08±2.97 g) from fish fed OGM6 diet. While the highest MWG was from fish fed OG3 diet and the least was from OG6 diet. The fish fed OGM3 had the highest PI (5.72) and the least (1.53) was from fish fed OGM6 diet. Therefore adoption of Ocimum gratissimum meal diet at the established dosages of OGM2 and OGM3 in sustainable catfish production in Africa is being advocated based on its availability and profitability.