Comparative Production of Zooplanktons for Fish Production using Cow Dung and Chicken Droppings in Katsina Metropolis

Comparative study on the production of zooplanktons for fish production using cow dung and chicken droppings was carried out in Biological Garden of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina State in January 2019 using standard methods and procedures. Zooplankton with highest abundance in pond water cultured with Cow dung in week 1 was rotifers 21 (16.67%), followed by Trichocera spp and Tunicate Veliger 14 (11.11%) and the least in abundance was Ostracods with 2 (1.59%) Zooplankton with highest abundance in pond water cultured with Chicken droppings in week 1 was gastrotrica and adult copecods each with 21 (11.29%), followed by rotifers and Veliger larva 19 (10.22%) and the least in abundance was shelled amoeba with 2 (1.08%). The results of the study indicated Rotifers, Ostracods, Copecods, Tunicate Velliger, Gastrotrica, Trichocera spp as the most dominant zooplanktons during the study period. The least abundant zooplanktons in both the two cultures were leeches, flat worms and amoeba. Comparison of zooplanktons produced from ponds cultured with cow dung and chicken droppings indicated that zooplanktons produced from chicken droppings are significantly higher (p<0.05) than those produced from cow dung. Chicken droppings are therefore recommended for use in zooplanktons production for fish farming to enhance productivity.

Keywords: Abundance, Comparative, Cow dung, Chicken dropping, Zooplanktons.