Economic Evaluation of Four Hormonal Preparations in the Artificial Propagation of Heterotis niloticus (Cuvier, 1829)

The economic evaluation of four hormonal preparations: Heterotis niloticus pituitary extract, ovaprim, Clarias gariepinus pituitary extract and carp pituitary extract (C.P.E) in artificial propagation of Heterotis niloticus was investigated. Total of twenty four fishes (twelve females and twelve males) of twenty four months old were used for the experiment. The females were divided into four groups.  Each group was induced to spawn with the same hormone. Sperm from one male was used to fertilize the eggs obtained from individual females. Effects of the hormones on the fecundity were investigated to help address the economic values. The results showed that the cost of inducing 2.20kg female to yield 30.33g, 47.00g, 30.00g and 29.33g of eggs, were ₦200, ₦700, ₦300 and ₦480, for Heterotis niloticus pituitary extract, ovaprim, Clarias gariepinus pituitary extract and C.P.E, respectively. Profitability index for Heterotis niloticus pituitary extract, ovaprim, Clarias gariepinus pituitary extract and C.P.E was 7, 10, 6.8 and 6.6, respectively. Indicating that, cost of production accounted <10% for ovaprim, <15% for CPE, and <14% for both HnPE and CgPE of the total variable cost. The production was more profitable with ovaprim than HnPE, CgPE and C.P.E. The study has provided data, comparing the effectiveness of the hormones, revealing that the four hormones can be used for artificial propagation of H. niloticus with varied degree of economic implication. However, ovaprim is highly recommended to hatchery users for optimum performance.