Question: Title, theme and concept -300 characters with space
Research problem and methods -3600 characters with space
THESIS PROPOSAL BY TOSIN SARAH FASHAGBA
Title: The Effect of Bull Testes Meal On The Growth, Nutrient Composition And Blood Profile of Clarias
gariepinus.
Theme: Zero hunger, Good health and well-being, and Economic growth.
Concept: To evaluate the efficacy of bull testes in Clarias gariepinus growth, nutrient composition and
fish health.
Research problem: With the world growing population, aquaculture will provide close to two
thirds of global food fish consumption by 2030 as catches from wild capture fisheries level off
and demand from an emerging global middle class, especially in China, substantially increases,
(World Bank, 2014).
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (2018) revealed that over the past three
years, the human population suffering from hunger has increased to levels recorded a decade
ago. Almost 1 billion people are food and nutrient insecure, which pose a greater risk to diet
related non-communicable diseases. Malnutrition, undernutrition and micronutrient
deficiencies are now the leading cause of poor health globally..
Globally, fish consumption rates is growing faster than the global population growth, because
of increased incomes and awareness of the health benefits associated with consuming fish, as
well as rising urbanization (Anderson et al, 2017). In addition to directly providing high-quality
food, fisheries and aquacultures create economic value through the production, trade, and
marketing of wild and farmed fish (Cai et al, 2019).
The programme "Fish to 2030: Prospects of Fisheries and Aquaculture" predicts that 62
percent of food fish will come from aquaculture by 2030 with the fastest supply growth likely to
come from tilapia, carp, and catfish.
Methods:
Research area: The research will be carried out in a well equipped university laboratory.
Aquarias will be used to rear the frys. Each aquaria will be equipped with appropriate aerator.
Testes collections: Bull testes will be bought from slaughter house, the fresh testes will be
skinned, sliced and completely homogenised using a blender without dilution. The
homogenised testes will be freezed-dried for a minimum of 24 hours, then lyophilized to
remove moisture, the resultant crumbs will be pulverized and seived. Lyophilized testes will
undergo proximate and mineral composition.
Experiment fish: The frys for the experiment will be produced through the process of induced
breeding.
Experimental feed: 40% crude protein diet would be formulated using fish feed ingredients.
Experimental design: The project will involve a control and four treatments, each will be done
in duplicate in a completely randomized design. The lyophilized bull testes will be incorporated
into different formulated 100g feed, at concentration of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent and used
to feed the frys in control and treatment 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. (Mohammed et al., 2017).
After the completion of the yolk sac the frys will be fed with bull testes meal for 60 days, after
which they will be fed on normal diet for 3 months.
Growth indices: During the experimental period the treatments and control will undergo pH
and dissolved oxgen water quality parameters. Weight gained, length, survival rate and feed
conversion ratio will be done at a week interval for 60 days, while for the next 3 months the
body weight, length and survival rate will be done at an interval of 2 weeks.
Nutrient composition: Proximate composition of the treatments and control will be checked at
the end of 60days and 3 months.
Blood profile: Haematological profile of control and treatments will be analyzed at the end of
60 days and 3 months.
Objectives: My project research on Clarias gariepinus is to: Increase the length and body weight,
shorten the culture period, evaluate the effects of bull testes on the nutrient composition and
blood profile, and to evaluate the acceptable quantity of bull testes that should be used as a
feed supplement.