Effects of supplementing fish meal with Sesame indicum on functional properties, phytotoxins and hematological compositions of Clarias gariepinus

This study analyzed the effects of supplementing fish meal with Sesame indicum on functional properties, phytotoxins and hematological compositions of Clarias gariepinus. A total of 150 of C. gariepinus fingerlings were grouped into 6 tanks with 20 C. gariepinus per tank. Each tank of fish was served with prepared fish meals supplemented with various levels of beniseed (S. indicum), namely, DT1 (commercial diet), stands as the control group, DT2 (0% beniseed with 100% soya bean meal, DT3 (25% beniseed with 75% soya bean meal, DT4 (50% beniseed with 50% soya bean, DT5 (75% beniseed with 25% soya bean and DT6 (100% beniseed with 0% soya bean, individually. The functional properties of each diet and hematological indices of the treated fish were determined. All prepared diets have improved the functional properties and their phytotoxins level remains within the permissible limit as compared to control diets (DT1). The formulated diets have potentially influenced the hematological indices analyzed compared to the control diet (DT1). At any level of S. indicum inclusion in the fish meal of C. gariepinus there was a potential improvement of the functional properties, hematological parameters and maintaining the levels of phytotoxins not to rise above the permissible limit. Thus, experimental diets (DT5 and DT6) with 75 and 100% S. indicum would be promising candidates which may be used for the development of the product in various food industries. Keywords: Clarias gariepinus, fish meal, hematological indices, Sesame. indicum