• 2020-11-10
• Adesina S.A, Ajayi B.M
• Volume 2, Issue 2

Abstract

Attempts to minimize the competition between humans, fish and livestock feed industries for conventional feed ingredients and to maximize aquaculture profitability have resulted in considering cheaper and locally available plant materials as alternatives for fish feed. This study assessed the dietary effect of Azolla pinnata leaf meal (APLM) in the diets of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings for ten weeks. Therefore, C. gariepinus fingerlings with an initial body weight of 4.03±0. 14g were randomly selected and assigned into 6 groups at the rate of 15 fish per tank representing six treatments in triplicate. Six isoproteic diets (40% CP) were formulated for C. gariepinus fingerlings to contain A. pinnata leaves at different inclusion levels 0% (control) 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) and designated as D1- D5 respectively. The diets were fed to the fish twice daily between (07:00 and 08:00 and 17:00 and 18:00 hours) at 5% of body weight. Results revealed that final carcass crude protein ranged between (62.15-68.13%) significantly (p<0.05) exceeded the initial value (60.84%). Fish fed D2 had the highest values of MWG (8.65 g), SGR (1.64%/day) and FCR (0.90) which gradually reduced towards the least values of MWG (4.40 g), SGR (1.64%/day) and FCR (1.48) in the fish fed with D 6. A reduction in growth as the A. pinnata increased beyond 10% inclusion level was observed. This study demonstrated that up to 10% dietary inclusion level of processed A. pinnata leaf meal enhanced growth performance and feed utilization in C. gariepinus fingerlings.