Growth and nutrient utilization of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus burchell) fed varying levels of Albizia lebbeck (benth) leaf meal

Abstract

Ten Clarias gariepinus fingerlings were stocked into each of fifteen plastic tanks and were subjected to five treatments with replicates of three each. Inclusion level of Albizia lebbeck was at 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% and commercial diet. Fish were fed 40% crude protein and the experiment lasted 70 days. Fish fed diet two (10%) , had the best Weight gain of 60.66g ±3.30, which was highly significant ps 0.05, Specific growth rate of 3.93g, Average daily growth of 0.87 and Percentage weight gain 1472.07. There was no significant difference in the NPU offish fed experimental diets though fish fed diet two had higher value (61.32g) among others. There was significant difference p ≤ 0.05 in Protein efficiency ratio where diet two had the highest value (2.57g). The best FCR was also obtained in diet two was significantly different (p ≤ 0.01) from others. This result recommends that protein in the diet of C. gariepinus can be replaced up to 10%Albizia lebbeck inclusion level.

Keywords: Growth performance, Nutrient utilization, Clarias gariepinus, Albizia lebbeck, Protein source