Growth and nutrient utilization of Heteroclarias (H. Bidorsalis x c. Gariepinus) fed dietary levels of Alchornia cordifolia leaf meal

Abstract

The experiment was carried out to determine the effect of dietary levels of Alchornia cordifolia leaf meal on the growth and nutrient utilization of Heteroclarias (H. bidorsalis x C. gariepinus) post fingerlings. 35% isonitrogenous dietary levels of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% Alchornia
cordifolia leaf meal were formulated. These were fed to 225 post fingerlings of Heteroclarias, randomly assigned to 5 treatments – TCN, TA1, TA2, TA3 and TA4 in 3 replicates of 15 post fingerlings each using 15 plastic aquaria (250 x 150cm). The fishes were fed twice daily at 5% body weight within the experimental period of 56days. Growth and nutrient utilization of the experimental fishes were determined. The specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, and feed conversion ratio of the control were significantly (p<0.05) better than those of other dietary treatments of Alchornia cordifolia leaf meal. The daily protein intake was similar for all the treatments, except for TA2 which was significantly (p<0.05) the least. The results of the experiment revealed that ACLM had no significant nutritional attribute as feedstuff in the diets of post fingerlings of Heteroclarias.