Preliminary investigation on the potentials of wild variegated cocoyam (Caladium hortulanum) as replacement for maize in diets of catfish (Heterobranchus bidorsalis)

Abstract

Experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutritive potentials of wild variegated Cocoyam corms (Caladium hortulanum) as substitute for maize in diets of catfish fingerlings. Four practical diets were formulated such that they contained cooked wild variegated cocoyam meals as substitute/replacer for maize at O%, 33%, 66% and 100% respectively. Four hundred and eighty fish fingerlings of H.bidorsalis were assigned to eight indoor concrete tanks (150x 130x 130cm) and fed with isonitrogenous diets (cp=40%) at 3% body weight for 63 days. Twenty fingerlings were randomly sampled weekly from each treatment, weighted and returned to individual tanks thereafter. At the end of the trials, the fingerlings showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in body weight gain between control diet and cocoyam based diets. However, there was significant difference (p<0.05) at T₄, that is, 100% replacement. The above results revealed that cooked wild variegated cocoyam corm can replace maize or substitute maize up to 66% in diets of Heterobranchus bidorsalis fingerlings.

International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 7(1) 2006: 143-151