Some haematological changes in hybrid catfish (Heterobranchus longifilis x Clarias gariepinus) fed different dietary levels of raw and boiled jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis) seed meal

Abstract

Changes were observed in some haematological parameters of juvenile hybrid catfish (Heterobranchus
longifilis x Clarias gariepinus) fed raw and 60 min-boiled jackbean seed meal (JBSM) at different dietary
levels for 56 days. The haematocrit (packed cell volume, PCV), red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood
cell (WBC) count and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing
dietary JBSM level. Though the mean values of the blood parameters of fish fed diets containing boiled
JBSM (PCV = 29.93%; RBC = 1.2 x 106
mm
-3
; WBC = 15.91 x 103
mm
-3
; Hb = 8.31 g/100 ml) showed
significant improvement when compared with those fed raw JBSM diets (PCV = 28.68%; RBC = 1.13 x
106
mm
-3
; WBC = 14.63 x 10 3
mm
-3
; Hb = 8.31 g/100 ml) they were, however, lower and significantly
(P<0.05) different from those fed the control diet (PCV = 35.50%; RBC = 1.43 x 106
mm
-3
; WBC = 20.42 x
103
mm
-3
; Hb = 10.62 g/100 ml). However the observed reduction of the blood parameters did not go
below the normal range of values recorded for catfish. Further investigation to improve the quality of
boiled JBSM is suggested.