Growth Performance of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Fed Processed Moringa oleifera (LAM.) Seed Meal

Abstract

Inflating price and uncertain availability of fishmeal entailed the need to focus on utilization of cheaper plant protein source ingredients. Growth performance of Clarias gariepinus fed processed Moringa seed was evaluated for the period of eight weeks. The Moringa seeds were taken to Biology Department, Kaduna State University for identification and authentication. The seeds were soaked in water for 24hours, rinsed and boiled at 100^oC for 15minutes, air dried, toasted for another 5minutes and pulverised to obtain Moringa oliefera seed meal (MOSM) used to replace fishmeal at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% inclusion levels. Six diets and a commercial feed (control) were used in the experiment labelled T1,T2,T3,T4,T5,T6 and T7. Mixed sexes Clarias gariepinus fingerlings of average weight of 5.23±0.06 were used . Twenty one rubber tanks (25liter capacity) were used at the stocking density of 10 fish per tank with three replications. Fish fed 5%  and 10% inclusions of MOSM recorded the highest weight of 28.8±0.08 and 28.6±0.08 respectively showing no significant difference between the controls (0% inclusion and the commercial feed) and the experimental diets at p-value (<0.05). The study shows that processed MOSM can be included in Catfish diet at the inclusion level of up to 25%.