EFFECT OF USING SOME ORGANIC ACIDS SALTS ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND IMMUNITY IN AFRICAN CATFISH

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of acidifiers on growth performance, feed utilization and immunity of African catfish Clarias gariepinus. This experiment was carried out in recirculating water system in Fish Production Branch, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University. A total of 120 fish were selected as healthy catfish which had a uniform size with average weight 94.93±0.89g. A thirty of catfish were used in each treatment divided into three replicates as (10 fish/ quadrate tank). Four experimental diets were formulated to contain 34.9% crude protein and 4905 Kcal GE/ Kg diet. with different level of blended organic acids (BOA’s). Diet was supplemented with four treatments (T1 control group 0 ml BOA’s/Kg diet, T2 the second treatment 2ml BOA’s/Kg diet, the third treatment 4ml BOA’s/Kg diet and the fourth treatment 6 ml BOA’s/Kg diet. Blended organic acids (100 ml) was containing of 55.4 ml formic acid (85%), phosphoric acid 27 ml (85%), 10.1 ml acetic acid plus (5.8 g citric acid and 1.1 g copper sulfate, both diluted in 7.5 ml distilled water). Apparent digestibility of crude protein and ether extract was measured. The chemical proximate analysis for whole body of fish was conducted at the end of experimental period. Fish groups fed on 0.6% blended organic acids showed the highest significance (p<0.05) increase in total weight gain (438± 14.24 g), specific growth rate, best feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency ratio, highest protein efficiency compared with the rest of experimental groups. Total weight gain improved significantly (P<0.05) by increasing the level of dietary acidifiers 0.2% and 0.4% compared with the basal diet T1. Specific growth rate of Clarias gariepinus fed dietary acidifiers at 0.6 % and 0.4%