Growth, Feed Utilization, and Body Indices of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fed Diet with or without Cinnamon Inclusion

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of supplementing the diet with cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) on the growth, feed efficiency, survival rate, and body indices of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Two diets with equal protein and lipid contents were prepared: a control (0% cinnamon) and one supplemented with 2% cinnamon powder. Each diet was fed to three groups of catfish (average initial weight 2.17 ± 0.17 g) for 28 days under controlled laboratory conditions. Growth performance metrics including specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed intake, and survival as well as body condition indices (condition factor, viscero-somatic index, and hepato-somatic index) were assessed. Results showed that cinnamon supplementation did not cause significant differences (p > 0.05) in weight gain, FCR, SGR, or feed intake compared with the control group. Survival was 100% in both groups. Among the body indices, viscero-somatic index tended to be lower in the cinnamon-fed fish (p = 0.059), while hepato-somatic index and condition factor remained comparable between treatments. The inclusion of 2% cinnamon powder did not significantly affect the growth performance or feed utilization efficiency of Clarias gariepinus, indicating limited nutritional benefit at this inclusion level. Further research should examine varying supplementation rates and potential physiological or health-related effects to better elucidate the functional role of cinnamon in catfish diets.