Palm Wine Shows Potential to Preserve Catfish Sperm, University of Abuja Study Finds
Researchers from the University of Abuja, Nigeria, have discovered that traditional palm wine may help preserve catfish sperm used in aquaculture breeding. The study, conducted by Columbus Philemon Kwinjoh, Ubah Simon Azubuike, and Aniugwu Mercy Peter, was published in 2026 in the International Journal of Business and Management Practices (IJBMP). The findings suggest that palm wine derived from Raphia palm and oil palm trees could serve as an effective and low-cost extender for catfish milt (semen), potentially improving fertilization, hatchability, and survival rates in fish farming.
The research highlights a promising innovation for aquaculture, particularly in regions where fish farming is expanding but access to specialized laboratory chemicals is limited. By using locally available natural resources, fish hatcheries may be able to improve breeding efficiency while reducing operational costs.
Aquaculture’s Growing Need for Efficient Breeding Methods
Aquaculture plays an increasingly important role in global food production. In many African countries, African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) is one of the most widely farmed fish species due to its fast growth, high survival rate, and strong demand in local markets.
Successful fish breeding often depends on maintaining the quality of milt, the fluid containing sperm used to fertilize fish eggs. However, once collected, milt quickly loses viability if not properly preserved. Fish hatcheries typically use chemical extenders—solutions that dilute and preserve sperm—to maintain sperm activity during storage and artificial fertilization.
In many developing regions, these specialized solutions can be expensive or difficult to obtain. This challenge has motivated researchers to explore natural and locally available alternatives that can perform similar functions.
Palm wine, a fermented drink commonly produced from palm tree sap in many African communities, contains nutrients and biochemical properties that may help maintain sperm activity. The research team from the University of Abuja investigated whether palm wine could serve as a practical biological extender for fish breeding.
Testing Palm Wine as a Natural Milt Extender
The study examined two types of palm wine:
-Raphia palm wine (Raphia vinifera)
-Oil palm wine (Elaeis guineensis)
The researchers designed an experiment using mature African catfish broodstock. Male catfish weighing approximately 1.6 kilograms were used to collect milt, while another male fish weighing 1.5 kilograms provided fresh milt for spawning tests. A mature female catfish weighing 2.2 kilograms supplied eggs for fertilization trials.
The experiment was divided into two phases.
Phase 1: Milt Preservation
Five different extender treatments were tested:
-Group A: Coconut water (control group)
-Group B: Oil palm wine
-Group C: Raphia palm wine
-Group D: Raphia palm wine combined with antibiotics
-Group E: Oil palm wine combined with antibiotics
Fresh catfish milt was diluted with each extender at a 1:9 ratio. The diluted samples were placed in sterile containers and stored at 4°C.
Over a period of seven days, the researchers monitored several indicators of sperm quality, including:
-sperm motility (movement ability)
-mass activity
-pH stability
Phase 2: Fertilization and Hatchability
After 24 hours of storage, the three best-performing extender treatments from Phase 1 were used in fertilization experiments.
The preserved milt was mixed with catfish eggs collected from the female broodstock to measure:
-fertilization success
-egg hatchability
-survival rates of newly hatched fish (fry)
Key Findings of the Study
The research produced several significant findings about the potential of palm wine in aquaculture breeding.
1. Palm wine preserved sperm activity effectively
Both raphia palm wine and oil palm wine maintained sperm motility during chilled storage, showing potential as viable natural extenders.
2. Antibiotic-enhanced palm wine performed best
Palm wine treatments combined with antibiotics helped maintain better sperm quality over time compared with untreated samples.
3. Fertilization success remained high
Milt preserved using palm wine extenders was still capable of successfully fertilizing catfish eggs after storage.
4. Hatchability rates were promising
Eggs fertilized with palm-wine-preserved milt produced healthy hatchlings with competitive hatch rates.
5. Fry survival remained stable
The survival rates of newly hatched fish were comparable to those produced using conventional extender methods.
These findings demonstrate that natural palm wine solutions can support both sperm preservation and successful fish reproduction.
Implications for Fish Farmers and Aquaculture Development
The discovery could have important implications for small-scale fish farmers and hatchery operators, particularly in regions where access to laboratory-grade reproductive solutions is limited.
Palm wine is widely available across many parts of Africa and can be produced locally at relatively low cost. Using it as a milt extender could make artificial breeding techniques more accessible to fish farmers.
Improved breeding efficiency also contributes to higher fish production, which is crucial for addressing food security and increasing income opportunities in rural communities.
According to Columbus Philemon Kwinjoh of the University of Abuja, the results indicate that natural substances such as palm wine may serve as practical alternatives to synthetic extenders in aquaculture. The study emphasizes the value of exploring indigenous biological resources to support sustainable fish farming practices.
The research also suggests that further investigations could optimize storage conditions and evaluate long-term applications in commercial hatcheries.
Author Profiles
Columbus Philemon Kwinjoh is a researcher at the University of Abuja, Nigeria, specializing in aquaculture, fish reproduction, and sustainable fish farming systems.
Ubah Simon Azubuike is an academic affiliated with the University of Abuja whose research focuses on fisheries science and aquatic resource management.
Aniugwu Mercy Peter is a researcher working in aquaculture and fish breeding technologies, also affiliated with the University of Abuja.
Together, the three researchers focus on developing practical and locally adaptable innovations that support sustainable aquaculture in Africa.
Source
Kwinjoh, C. P., Azubuike, U. S., & Peter, A. M. (2026).
“The Potentials of Raphia Palm Wine (Raphia vinifera) and Oil Palm Wine (Elaeis guineensis) as Milt Extenders in African Catfish Following Chilled Storage.”
International Journal of Business and Management Practices (IJBMP), Vol. 4 No. 1, pp. 49–64.
 and Oil Palm Wine (Elaeis guineensis) as Milt (Semen) Extenders in African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus) Following Chilled Storage and their Impacts on Milt Quality, Fertilization, Hatchability and Fry Survival Rates){kind=link}
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