EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF DATE PALM (Phoenix dactylifera L.) SEED ON MILT QUALITY OF AFRICAN CATFISH (Clarias gariepinus) BROODSTOCKS

Abstract

The effects of Phoenix dactylifera seed powder on milt quality of Clarias gariepinus was investigated. Five diets with crude protein of 40% were formulated with different inclusion levels of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0g date palm/100g of diet. A total of 75 male C. gariepinus broodstocks (327.26 ± 8.61g) were randomly distributed in triplicate into 15 concrete tanks (1m x 1m x 0.6m) at stocking density of 5 fish per tank. The experiment was carried out for a period of 70 days and the broodstocks were fed at 3% body weight per day. Reproductive performance indices (%fertilization, %hatchability, and %Survival) and milt quality parameters (milt volume, milt counts, sperm motility, motility duration and percentage motility) were determined at the end of the feeding trial. There was no significant differences (P<0.05) in the weight of testes, gonadosomatic index and weight gain in fish in all the experimental diets. The milt count (102.40 x 104spz/ml ± 0.87) and motility duration (60.70s ± 0.13 seconds) were highest in fish fed diet PDSP 4 (1.5g date palm/100g diet) and PDSP 5 (2.0g date palm/100g). The percentage motility was highest in fish fed PDSP 5 at (2.0g date palm/100g diet). The study revealed that dietary supplementation of P. dactylifera seed powder at 1.0 – 2.0g/100g diet significantly increased milt quality of C. gariepinus broodstocks. The result from the histological studies carried out showed that the testes of fish fed diets PDSP 4 and PDSP 5 has organized lobules with filled lumen and presence of Sertoli cells which indicates high spermatozoa density in the seminiferous lumen seen in the testicular histology of the fish signifying a better spermatogenetic activity of P. dactylifera seed powder. The findings revealed P. dactylifera seed powder as a promising pro-fertility agent which could be exploited in fish seed production.