Muhammad Zanna Wuroma1, Muhammed Zakariya Hassan2, Wanas Lalai Ndirmbita2, Umar Buba Wakil2.
1Department of Agricultural Technology, Mohamet Lawan College of Agriculture, Borno State.
2Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri, Borno
*Corresponding author’s Email: wuromadbest@gmail.com, doi.org/10.55639/607.02010029
ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the growth performance and feed utilization of Clarias gariepinus fed diets with varying replacement levels of toasted Philostigma reticulatum seed meal (TPRSM). A total Three hundred and sixty Clarias gariepinus fingerlings ranged from (4.78g to 4.83g) were assigned to 6 treatments and replicated 3 times in a completely randomized design in 1mx1m collapsible tank for sixteen (16) weeks, where 20 fish are stocked per culture medium and were fed at 5% body weight. Weights and lengths were measured biweekly and used to calculate the growth and nutrient utilization parameters. Data collected were analysed using a one-way analysis of variance. The results of the experiments showed the control group demonstrated the best performance with the highest-specific growth rate (SGR), condition factor, survival rate, protein efficiency ratio (PER), and lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) in favor of growth, health, and feed utilization. On the contrary, 50% inclusion rendered the most dismal performance with the lowest SGR, condition factor, and the highest FCR, indicating less efficiency. The 75% and 100% inclusion levels exhibited intermediate responses where 100% of the level recorded comparatively better PER. Net protein utilization (NPU) showed very little variation among all treatments, implying that protein utilization for all treatment levels was unaffected regardless of TPRSM inclusion level. The study concluded that while Philostigma reticulatum seed meal can be used in Clarias gariepinus diets, higher replacement levels affect growth performance and feed utilization, which is why higher replacement levels should not be allowed.
Keywords:
Philostigma reticulatum seed,
Growth Performance,
Nutrient Utilization,