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¹ Obafemi Awolowo University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Sciences, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
² University of Ibadan, Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Ibadan, Nigeria DOI : 10.4194/AQUAST3199 Viewed : 155 - Downloaded : 194 The effect of Spondias mombin (SM) leaf extract on growth, gut morphometry, blood and liver enzymes in hybrid catfish was investigated. Extract from Fresh S. mombin leaves was screened for biomolecules. A 35% crude protein basal-diet was supplemented with S. mombin leaf extract at 0% (SM0), 0.5% (SM0.5), 1.0% (SM1.0), 1.5% (SM1.5), and 2.0% (SM2.0). Diets were randomly assigned in triplicates to 300 juvenile hybrid catfish (2.65±0.24 g) evenly reared in 15 aquaria over 56 days. Results showed that growth and nutrient utilization were positively affected at 0.5% and 1.0% inclusions. The highest mean weight gain, protein efficiency ratio, and optimal feed conversion ratio were recorded in fish fed SM1.0. Survival rates were also highest in SM1.0. Although villi height was not different across treatments, SM1.0 exhibited increased muscle thickness. Significant elevations (P<0.05) in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were observed in SM0.5 and SM1.0. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were highest in SM0.5, with values reduced significantly in fish fed SM1.5 and SM2.0. This study revealed 1.0% dietary inclusion of Spondias mombin leaf extract enhanced fish growth, while 1.5 to 2.0% provided the most significant hepatoprotective benefits by lowering AST, ALT and ALP levels, highlighting its potential as a feed additive. Keywords : Yellow mombin Extract African catfish Performance