Growth Performance, Genotoxicity and Histopathology of The Tissues of African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus) Fed Fermented Ginger peel Meal

Abstract

Fermented ginger peel meal (Zingiber officinale) was evaluated as a substitute for maize in the diet of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings over a period of 60 days. Ginger peels were fermented using pure cultures of Aspergillus niger fungus. The weekly weight gain was highest in fishes fed with 50% FGPM and was significantly higher (P>0.05) than fishes fed with control, 10%, 20% and 30% FGPM. The digestibility results showed that the P value is greater than 0.05 (P>0.05), there was no statistically significant difference between the control and all other digestibility parameters. Histological sections of the liver of all the fishes fed with the experimental diets, showed a liver with moderate fatty change, except with fishes fed with 30% FGPM which had a liver with severe fatty change. Also, the micronucleus test of the experimental fishes showed little nuclear abnormalities in fishes fed with 30% and 50% FGPM. This study indicated that fermented ginger peel meal could replace maize in the diet of Clarias gariepinus up until 50% inclusion without any adverse effect on the growth and nutrient utilization.