Zootechnical Performance and Body Composition of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Fingerlings Fed Local Feeds Enriched with Azomite
Arnauld S.M. Djissou1,2, Théophile Godome2, Daouda Konate1, Osny Zocli3,4,
N. Darius Tossavi3,5, Mamadou Alpha Balde1 and Diane N.S. Kpogue Gangbazo2,3*
1Département de Pêche et Aquaculture, Institut Supérieur des Sciences et de Médecine Vétérinaire de Dalaba, Guinée
2Laboratoire d’Hydrobiologie et de Recherches sur les Zones Humides, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Bénin.
3Unité de Recherches en Aquaculture et en Gestion des Pêcheries, Ecole d’Aquaculture, Université nationale d’Agriculture, Bénin.
4Le LEMAR,Laboratoire des sciences de L’environnement Marin.
5Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Ecologie Parasitaire, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Bénin.
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to assess the impact of azomite, a natural mineral derived from volcanic ash, on the zootechnical performance of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed with formulated diets based on local by-products. The study lasted 28 days. A total of four diets (T0, 0%; T1, 1%; T2, 2%; T3, 3% azomite) were tested on fingerlings of 1.06± 0.01 g mean initial weight distributed in tanks of 1 m3 each. The rationing rate was 12%. Zootechnical performance varied significantly between treatments (P < 0.05). Specific growth rate varied from 4.21 ± 0.25%/day to 5.73 ± 0.23%/day, and survival rate from 85.33 ± 2.31% to 89.33 ± 9.24%. T2 diets (2% azomite) produced the best growth and feed efficiencies. We can therefore conclude that the best rate of azomite supplementation for good zootechnical performance of C. gariepinus fingerlings is 2%.
Article Information
Received 08 July 2025
Revised 05 September 2025
Accepted 20 September 2025
Available online 30 April 2026
(early access)
Published 03 August 2026
Authors’ Contribution
DSMA: Formal analysis, data collection, writing original draft preparation. GT: Methodology, resources, writing review and editing. KD: Formal analysis, writing review and editing, methodology. ZO: Methodology, writing review and editing. TND: Methodology, formal analysis, writing review and editing. MAB: Methodology, writing review and editing. KGDNS: Conceptualization, supervision, writing review and editing.
Key words
Fingerlings, Clarias gariepinus, Azomite, Local feed, Zootechnical performance, Natural mineral
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20250708133855
* Corresponding author: [email protected]
0030-9923/2026/0005-2183 $ 9.00/0
Copyright 2026 by the authors. Licensee Zoological Society of Pakistan.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Introduction
The aquaculture sector has been booming worldwide since the 2000s. In 2018, aquaculture production accounted for 46.0% compared with 25.7% in 2000 (FAO, 2020). This situation is clearly justified by the growing demand for aquaculture products. Average apparent per capita consumption rose from 18.4 kg in 2015 to 20.5 kg in 2018 (FAO, 2020). Fish is a low-cost source of protein and lipids, of good nutritional quality and accessible to all Africans (Kaushik, 2001; Fermon et al., 2010). The major problems undermining the development of aquaculture in Benin include the quality of the feed produced and the lack of species diversification. Most of the feed used in fish farming comes from the Netherlands, Brazil, Israel, Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria (Rurangwa et al., 2014). Feed is the biggest expense in aquaculture, accounting for 50-70% of production costs (Rana et al., 2009). It therefore deserves special attention and in-depth work to reduce fish production costs and thus increase fish farmers revenues.
Considered a natural mineral product from Utah (USA), azomite is very useful, and widely used in Asia. It is a certified organic trace element booster that has been used as a supplement in livestock and aquatic animal feeds worldwide for over a decade. It has also been used in poultry, shrimp and tilapia feeds as a trace element blend for several years and claims to improve feed quality, increase weight gain, feed conversion and palatability (Ahamed et al., 2020). An azomite-supplemented diet has been reported to improve growth, intestinal digestive enzyme activity, nutrient digestibility and non-specific serum immune function in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus x O. aureus) (Liu et al., 2009), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) (Liu et al., 2011), koi carp (Cyprinus carpio) (Jaleel et al., 2015). It is necessary to incorporate trace elements into fish diets, as they are involved in the biochemical processes required for normal fish growth and development (Hooge, 2008). Given the importance of including azomite in experimental and commercial animal and poultry diets and its effects on growth and survivability, the present study was initiated to test the effect of azomite-enriched feeds on the zootechnical performances and carcass composition of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings.
Materials and Methods
Experimental set-up
This study was carried out at the research station of the Laboratoire d’Hydrobiologie et de Recherche sur les Zones Humides (LHyReZH) of the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC). Twelve circular concrete basins, each with a capacity of 500 L, were used to conduct the study. Each basin was filled with 300 L of water at a flow rate of 3 L min-1. The water in the basins was changed twice a day: in the morning before the first feeding, and in the evening before the last feeding. Half of each basin was covered with a screen to prevent direct sunlight penetration.
A total of 375 C. gariepinus fingerlings with an average initial weight of 1.06 ± 0.2 g were used in the experiment. The stocking density was 30 fingerlings per tank. Feeding frequency was three times a day (08AM, 12AM and 5PM). The duration of the study was 28 days.
Four experimental diets (Table I) formulated with local ingredients using the feed calculator application were used in the experiment. Of these experimental diets, three (T1, T2 and T3) contained azomite at various rates of incorporation. The fourth is the control diet (T0 without azomite). All diets are isoproteic, isolipid and isoenergetic. Each diet was tested in triplicate. The rationing rate was 10% of biomass per tank.
During the manufacturing process of the tested diets, the raw ingredients are finely ground, weighed and blended until a homogeneous whole is obtained. Then, purified amino acids (DL-methionine), azomite, vitamins and minerals and palm oil were added. Water was then added to obtain a malleable paste. The resulting mixture was passed through the 1 mm mesh of a food mill. The resulting spaghetti was cold dryed in a dehydrator at 32°C for 36 h and then broken down by hand into small granules. The resulting granules were stored in small containers kept at a cool temperature (4°C) until distribution. The feed was distributed manually every three (03) h from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Control fishing was carried out every 7 days from 7 am to 9 am. At each control fishing, the fingerlings were counted and the biomass per pound was assessed in order to adjust the feed ration.
For water quality monitoring, physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, TDS, electrical conductivity and pH were measured using a portable multimeter (Calypso ORCHIDIS SN-ODEOA 2138) every morning before the first feeding.
Table I. Diets tested during experimentation.
|
Ingredients |
T0 |
T1 (1%) |
T2 (2%) |
T3 (3%) |
|
Mineral vitamin premixa |
0.25 |
0.25 |
0.25 |
0.25 |
|
Maize meal |
16.5 |
15.5 |
14.5 |
13.5 |
|
Palm oil |
3.73 |
3.73 |
3.73 |
3.73 |
|
Wheat bran |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Blood meal |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Fish meal a |
22.5 |
22.5 |
22.5 |
22.5 |
|
Soybean meal |
30 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
|
Soya meal |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
|
0.02 |
0.02 |
0.02 |
0.02 |
|
|
Azomite b |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Proximate compsition |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
Crude protein (%) |
39 |
39 |
39 |
39 |
|
Crude lipid (%) |
10.24 |
10.24 |
10.24 |
10.24 |
|
Energy (KJ/g) c |
17.5 |
17.5 |
17.5 |
17.5 |
|
Protein/ Energy c |
2.23 |
2.23 |
2.23 |
2.23 |
a Drugstore , premix (vitamin-mineral) contains (‰): Vitamin A 4 000 000 U.I; Vitamin D 800 000 U.I; Vitamin E 40 000U.I; Vitamin K3 1600 mg; Vitamin B1 4 000 mg; Vitamin B2 3 000 mg; Vitamin B6 3 800 mg; Vitamin B12 3 mg; Vitamin C 60 000 mg; Biotin 100 mg; Inositol 10 000 mg Pantothenic acid 8 000 mg; Nicotinic acid 18 000 mg; Folic acid 800 mg; Cholin chloride 120 000 mg; Colbat carbonate 150 mg; Ferrous sulphate 8 000 mg; Potassium iodide 400 mg; Manganese oxide 6 000 mg; Cuivre 800 mg; Sodium selenite 40 mcg; Lysine 10 000 mg ; Methionin 10 000 mg ; Zinc sulphate 8 000 mg;. b Mineral Products, Inc. hereby certifies that this analysis is a typical analysis of AZOMITE® Country of Origin: United States cCalculated from nutrient content of experimental diets : 23.01 Kj/g protein; 38.07 Kj/g lipid and 17.15 Kj/g carbohydrates
Biochemical analysis
Biochemical analyses (proteins, lipids, ash and dry matter) were carried out in triplicate using AOAC (1999) standard methods. These analyses were carried out on ingredients, feed and experimental fry. For crude protein, the Kjeldahl method (%N x 6.25) was used. Lipids were determined by the Soxhlet hot method, using a mixture of chloroform and methanol (2 :1 v/v) for lipid extraction (Folch et al., 1957). Dry matter is determined by measuring weight loss after drying for 24 h in an oven at 105 °C, and ash by incinerating samples in an oven at 550°C for 16 h. The gross energy of the experimental regimes was calculated according to Azaza et al. (2006). All analyses were carried out at the Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Biologie Moléculaire of the Faculté des Sciences et Techniques (Université d’Abomey-Calavi).
Zootechnical parameters and feed utilization
Growth, survival and feed utilization performances were calculated. These were specific growth rate (SGR), average daily weight (ADW), survival rate (SR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and feed efficiency (FE). These parameters were assessed using the following formula:
SGR (% / d) = [(ln FBW - ln IBW) / Experimentation duration] x 1001
ADW (g/d)=(FBW - IBW) / Experimentation duration
SR(%)= (Final number of fish/Initial number of fish) x 100.
FE = (FBW - IBW)/ Qa
PER = Wet body mass gain/ Protein intake
Where IBW and FBW are initial body weight and final body weight, respectively and Qa= Quantity of feed consumed.
Statistical analysis
Experimental data were subjected to ANOVA1 analysis after verification of normality and data homogeneity using Statviews software (version 5.01). Fisher’s LSD (Least-Significant-Difference) test was used to perform a paired comparison of means. The significance level considered was 5%.
Results
Physico-chemical parameters of water
Table II shows the average values of the physico-chemical parameters of the water according to the treatments during the trial. These results show that the experimental feed had no significant effect on the physico-chemical quality of the water in which C. gariepinus fingerlings were reared (p>0.05).
Zootechnical parameters and experimental feed utilization
Data on growth, survival and feed utilization are presented in Table III. Treatments T0, T1 and T3 had the lowest average final weights (p>0.05). The highest specific growth rates were obtained in fry fed the T2 diet (p<0.05). Survival rates ranged from 85.33 ± 0.98 (T1) to 89.33 ± 1.21 (T2). The best survival rates were obtained with treatments T2 and T3 (p<0.05).
Feed utilization parameters evaluated in this trial varied significantly between treatments (p<0.05). The best feed efficiency (FE) was obtained with treatment T2 (Fig. 1).
Table II. Variation in physico-chemical parameters as a function of treatments.
|
Parameters |
Temperature (°C) |
DO (mg/l) |
pH |
TDS (ppt) |
Conductivity (ms) |
|
T0 |
29.26 ± 0.48a |
7.46 ± 0.04a |
6.87± 0.12a |
0.19 ± 0.05a |
0.39±0.07a |
|
T1 |
29.27 ± 0.55a |
7.47 ± 0.59a |
6.86 ± 0.22a |
0.18 ± 0.08a |
0.37±0.05a |
|
T2 |
29.25 ± 0.47a |
7.46 ± 0.92a |
6.88 ± 0.18a |
0.19 ± 0.04a |
0.39±0.09a |
|
T3 |
29.26 ± 0.53a |
7.46 ± 0.50a |
6.85 ± 0.15a |
0.19 ± 0.06a |
0.38±0.07a |
Mean values on the same line, followed by the same exponents, were not significantly different (P > 0.05).
Table III. Variation in zootechnical parameters of C. gariepinus fingerlings according to treatments.
|
Parameters |
T0 |
T1 |
T2 |
T3 |
|
IBW (g) |
1.05±0.02a |
1.06±0.01a |
1.06±0.03a |
1.07±0.01a |
|
FBW (g) |
3.41±0.30b |
3.46±0.11b |
5.27±0.13a |
3.53±0.10b |
|
ADG(g/d) |
0.08±0.01b |
0.09±0.00b |
0.15±0.01a |
0.09±0.00b |
|
SGR (%/d) |
4.21±0.25b |
4.22±0.16b |
5.73±0.23a |
4.26±0.13b |
|
PER (%) |
0.01±0.00b |
0.01±0.00b |
0.02±0.01a |
0.02±0.01a |
|
SR (%) |
86.67±0.28b |
85.33±0.98b |
89.33±1.21a |
88.00±0.98a |
IBW, initial body weight; FBW, final body weight; ADG, average daily weight; SGR, specific growth rate; PER, protein efficiency ratio; SR, survival rate.
Mean values on the same line followed by different exponents are significantly different (P < 0.05).
Bromatological composition of fish carcasses
Table IV shows that the bromatological composition of fish carcasses varied according to treatment. The ash, protein, lipid and dry matter contents of the carcasses of the final samples were higher than those of the initial fish. The experimental feeds had a significant effect on the protein content of the carcasses of C. gariepinus fingerlings reared in this study (p <0.05).
Table IV. Bromatological composition of fish carcasses according to treatments.
|
Parameters (%) |
Initial |
T0 |
T1 |
T2 |
T3 |
|
Ash |
3.36± 0.11 |
3.67± 0.11a |
3.72± 0.10a |
3.80± 0.16a |
3.87± 0.16a |
|
Protein |
12.32± 0.61 |
14.21± 0.44a |
15.12± 1.12a |
16.52± 0.13a |
16.55± 0.33a |
|
Lipid |
3.28± 0.09 |
4.93± 0.32a |
5.35± 0.23a |
5.89± 0.35a |
5.99± 0.65a |
|
Dry matter |
44.24± 1.01 |
47.92± 1.21a |
48.61± 1.02a |
49.61± 1.02a |
49.32± 0.53a |
Mean values on the same line followed by different exponents are significantly different (P < 0.05).
See Table I for details of T0-T3.
Discussion
Physical and chemical parameters of the water
The physico-chemical parameter values recorded showed that the experimental regimes did not have a significant impact on water quality during this experiment. Similar observations were made by Kpogue et al. (2024) who also used black soldier fly larvae meal H. illucens for the pre-growth of Oreochromis niloticus. Physico-chemical parameters in general were found to be within an acceptable range for the growth of C. gariepinus fingerlings. In addition, water temperatures have varied from 29.25 to 29.27°C. This range of variation is well in line with the temperatures required by the species for its rapid growth. As for pH, fluctuation is almost non-existent and is very closed to neutral which is ideal for the development of C. gariepinus individuals.
These values are in line with the species requirements (Kanangiré, 2001; Amoussou and Toguyeni, 2016; Cherif and Guechache, 2018).
Zootechnical parameters and experimental feed utilization
The importance of trace elements as essential ingredients in diets, albeit in small quantities, is evident in aquaculture. Indeed, the use of azomite and other trace elements in feeds for aquaculture species significantly enhances growth performance, immunity and digestive functions in several species (Mustafa et al., 2016; Zhang et al., 2023). Liu et al. (2009) and Liu et al. (2011) had similar results in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus), carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and shrimp (Macrobrachium rosenbergii). Our results also showed an improvement in growth when 2% azomite was incorporated into feed for Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. The increase in growth is related to the increase in feed intake and apparent protein utilization showing a similar change with final weight and percentage weight gain and their relationships with azomite levels. Batool et al. (2018) noted a significant increase in growth performance and feed utilization in P. hypophthalmus fingerlings when adding 0.5% and 1.00% azomite compared with the control diet. Also, Azam et al. (2016) reported that the addition of 0.75% azomite to the diet of Oreochromis niloticus significantly increased growth and feed efficiency. The results of Aijun et al. (2009) showed that the addition of 2.5 g.kg-1 azomite to the diet improved the growth and nutrient digestibility of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus and O. aureus). Batool et al. (2018) showed that incorporating 1% azomite into diets for Pangasius hypophthalmus fingerlings improved their zootechnical performance. Man-zi et al. (2011) showed that incorporating 2% azomite into feed increased growth and feed efficiency in Ctenopharyngodon idellus fingerlings. The best zootechnical and sanitary performances were observed in Micropterus salmoides fingerlings when feed contained 4 g/kg citric acid + 1.5 g/kg azomite (Zhang et al., 2023).
Survival rates observed during this study ranged from 85.33 to 89.33%, with the highest observed in fingerlings from treatment T2. These results are similar to those recorded by d’Almeida et al. (2020) who worked on the effects of garlic (Allium sativum) on attractiveness and weight growth in C. gariepinus reared in soilless tanks. These authors found survival rates ranging from 96.66 to 100%. According to Mustafa et al. (2016), the use of azomite at optimal levels in fish diets increases their resistance to disease and stress. It then increases their survival rate (Shah et al., 2015). The better survival rates obtained with C. gariepinus fingerlings fed diets containing 2% and 3% azomite confirm this assertion.
Bromatological composition of fish carcasses
The bromatological composition of the carcasses of C. gariepinus fingerlings fed our experimental diets showed that the use of azomite did not adversely affect their nutritional quality. The best protein accretions were obtained with treatments T2 and T3. Zhang et al. (2023) also showed that incorporation of azomite at optimal levels in the diet of Micropterus salmoides fingerlings resulted in an increase in carcass protein. This undoubtedly reflects improved protein assimilation in these fish.
Conclusion
The use of azomite in the diet of C. gariepinus fingerlings positively influences growth, survival and feed utilization performance. The best results were obtained with feed containing 2% Azomite. This rate can therefore be recommended to fish farmers as a feed supplement to improve the zootechnical performance of C. gariepinus fingerlings.
Declarations
Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to everyone who provided technical assistance throughout this research
Funding
This study did not receive any dedicated funding.
Generative AI and AI-assisted technology statement
The authors declare that no generative AI and AI assisted technology was used in the creation of this manuscript.
Statement of conflict of interest
The authors have declared no conflict of interest.
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