Nutrient Utilization and Growth of Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fed Dietary Levels of Cassava Leaf Meal

Abstract

Fingerlings of catfish (Clarias aariepinus) of average weight 0.87 g were collected from ARAC, Port Harcourt and used to assess the responses of feeding dietary levels of cassava leaf meal on nutrient utilization and growth of the fish. 35% isonitrogeneous diets of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% dietary levels of cassava leaf meal were formulated. These were fed to the fingerlings randomly assigned to 4 treatments TCN (Control), TC₁ (10% CLM), TC₂ (20% CLM) and TC₃ (30% CLM) respectively in 3 replicates of 13 fingerlings each, using 12 plastic aquaria of 250 x 150 cm dimension. The fish were fed at 5% body weight twice daily within the experimental period of 8 weeks. Mortality range was between 20 and 24%, the least observed on the TCN (control) while TC₂ and TC₃ were the highest. Daily feed intake and protein intake were not significantly (p>0.05) different. The control (TCN) had the highest body weight gain, followed by TC₂, TC₃ and then TC₁. Specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio for the control (TCN) were significantly (p<0.05) better than other treatments. The dietary inclusion levels of cassava leaf meal therefore seem to have no strong nutritional attribute as feedstuff in the diet of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings.