Authors : L.M.O. Ibiyo , J.O. Atteh , J.S. Omotosho , C.T. Madu and A.N. Okaeme
Abstract: A completely randomised design with three replicates was used for an experiment conducted to study the profitability of vitamin C inclusion into the ration formulation of Heterobranchus longifilis. Graded levels (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 or 250) mg vitamin C kg 1 diet as ascorbate polyphosphate was included in a 42.5% crude protein basal diet and fed to triplicate groups of twenty fingerlings. The groups fed diets with vitamin C had statistically significant (p< 0.05) higher final weight than the group fed the control diet without vitamin C at the end of twenty weeks study. Feed consumed was significantly (p< 0.05) lower in the group fed diet without vitamin C. There was a significant difference (p< 0.05) between the groups fed 0 and 50 mg vitamin C kg 1 diets but no significant difference (p>0.05) between the groups fed diets with 100, 150, 200 and 250 mg vitamin C kg 1 diet on this parameter. Mortality was significantly (p< 0.05) higher in the groups fed diet devoid of vitamin C while there was no significant difference (p >0.05) between the fish fed the diets with the graded levels of vitamin C. The Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance (TBARS) of the liver and whole body of fish was significantly (p< 0.05) higher in fish fed diet devoid of vitamin C. Cost per kilogram of fish base on feed input was significantly (p< 0.05) higher in the group fed diet without vitamin C than those enriched with vitamin C. However within the groups enriched with vitamin C cost per kg of fish was significantly (p< 0.05) decreasing in the following order: diet 2>diet 6>diets 4, 5 and 3. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between fish fed diets with 100, 150 and 200 mg vitamin C kg 1 with respect to cost per kilogram of fish. The results of this study suggest that there is no alternative to the use of a complete diet with vitamin C in a sustainable intensive practical farming of H. longifilis.
L.M.O. Ibiyo , J.O. Atteh , J.S. Omotosho , C.T. Madu and A.N. Okaeme , 2007. Possible Improvement in Income with Vitamin C Fortified Diets in Practical Farming of Heterobranchus longifilis Fingerlings . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 479-484.