Wing Reproductive Termite (Macrotremes nigeriensis) – Soybean (Glyxine max) Meals Blend as Dietary Protein Source in the Practical Diets of Heterobranchus bidorsalis Fingerlings

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the utilization of wing reproductive termite ( Macrotremes nigeriensis ) - Soybean meals blend as dietary protein source in the diets of Heterobranchus bidorsalis fingerlings (M ± SE = 12.02 ± 0.03). The fingerlings were fed five Isonitrogenous and Isocaloric diets containing blends of wing reproductive termite (WRT) and soybean meal (SBM) in ratios of 75:25; 50:50; 25:75; and reference diets with ratio 0:100 and 100:0 of WRT and SBM respectively for 56 days at 5 percent body weight. A trend of difference in nutrient utilization was observed as Diet 1 (75WRT:25SBM) recorded mean weight gain (MWG) of 28.48g and better specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) than any other diet. This was followed by Diet 4 (100WRT:0SBM) which gave MWG value of 25.15g and second best SGR, FCR and PER values. There was observed significant difference (P< 0.05) in the MWG values among fishes fed the five diets. Also, there was marked significant difference (P< 0.05) in the ash, lipid and crude protein of carcass of fishes fed the five experimental diets.