Comparative Study on Induce Breeding of Clarias gariepinus on Growth and Survival Using Synthetic Hormone and Pituitary Extract

Aim: To investigate the effects of inducing broodstock with Artificial and Natural hormones on the growth and survival of Clarias garipeinus. Study Design: Treatments were assigned using complete randomized design. Place and Duration of the Study: Fish farm complex of Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU), Nigeria. Methodology: Five (5) broodstock of Clarias gariepinus (3male and 2 females) with mean weight of 2 kg each were selected from Aksu farm for breeding, using Ovaprim and Pituitary extract separately. The fertilized eggs were incubated. Fourteen-day old fry from each of the treatments were counted and stocked at 50 fry/m2 in a 2x 2 x1 m3 culture media in four replicates. Feeding was twice daily at 10 % body weight using Coppens commercial feed for twelve weeks. Water parameters and weekly growth data were observed and recorded. Results: The result showed no significant difference in all the growth parameters observed in this study. Final mean length and weight 18.8 ± 0.04 cm and 37.89 ± 0.06g were higher with pituitary extract than 14.8 ±0.02 cm and 29.86 ±0.02g respectively from the offspring treated with ovaprim. Offspring from pituitary extract treatment recorded the highest value of weight gain and specific growth rate 3.16 ±1.14(g) and 8.72 ± 1.20 more than the offspring from the broodstock induced with ovaprim with 2.49 ±3.92(g) and 8.44 ±1.06 but shows no significant (p<0.05) difference. Offspring from ovaprim treatment had the least % survival of 68.93 ± 4.46%. While offspring from pituitary extract treatment had higher survival value of 79.60±3.28%. Offspring from pituitary extract recorded 0.25 ± 0.02 value of food conversion ratio (F.G.R) while ovaprim treatment had 0.26±0.03. Offspring from ovaprim hormones had PER value of 12.09 ± 6.36 while pituitary treatment had PER value of 12.43 ± 4.12. The Condition factor (CF) from the ovaprim treatment was 1.46±0.15 higher than 1.44±0.13 obtained from the sample treated with pituitary extract. Statistically, analysis revealed that there was no significant (P<0.05) difference in the specific growth rate (SGR), Food conversion ratio (FCR), Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) and Condition factor of all the treatments. However, the offspring from broodstock induced with P.E had the best food conversion ratio value of 0.25 ± 0.02. Conclusion: Since pituitary extract can equally compete and perform effectively with ovaprim hormone, due to cost, scarcity, preservative problems and Government policy on import duties, pituitary extract which is readily available is recommended for artificial propagation of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus).