ZnO Nanoparticles as Feed Supplement on Growth Performance of Cultured African Catfish Fingerlings

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) (T₁) and macro zinc oxide (ZnO) (T₂) as feed additives against basal diet (control), on the growth performance, blood parameters and carcass quality of African catfish. nZnO was synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopic techniques. Different levels (0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 g Kg^-1) of each of the treatments (T₁ and T₂) were supplemented to a basal fish feed and, together with the control, fed to different groups of the fingerlings for a period of 7 weeks. Fish fed control diet (C) showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower percent weight gain compared to those fed T₁ and T₂ diets at the end of the experimental period. T₁ showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher performance as compared to T₂. Protein content was significantly higher in control diet fed fish compared to those fed T₁ and T₂ diets, and significantly higher in fish fed T₂ compared to those fed T₁ diets. Fat content in fish followed the dietary sequence T₁ < T₂< Control. Hematological parameters (RBCs, WBCs, Hb and Hct) increased significantly in the order Control < T₁ < T₂. Nano form of zinc oxide was found to be a better form of dietary zinc supplement than bulk zinc oxide.