POTENTIALS OF Leucaena leucocephala ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND NUTRIENT UTILIZATION OF AFRICAN CATFISH

Abstract

The need to substitute the scarce and expensive fishmeal with a cheaper alternative has drawn attention to the use of Leucaena leucocephala in feeds due to their abundance and high nutritional value. Three hundred (300) Clarias garipenius post fingerlings were purchased for this study. Therefore, this study evaluated the potentials of replacement of fishmeal with Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal at varying inclusion levels on the growth performance of Clarias gariepinus post fingerlings. Five (5) experimental diets were formulated comprising of the control diet (T0) which contained 100% fish meal (FM), four (4) Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal (LLLM) experimental diets (T1: 25%; T2: 50%; T3:75%; T4:100%). The feeding trial was conducted across 15 experimental plastic tanks with a 100L water carrying capacity for each tank. Each treatment had three replicates, and the fishes were fed twice a day for 16 weeks (112 days) under controlled conditions. The control diet (T0) contained 100% fish meal (FM), and four (4) Leucaena leucocephala experimental diets (T1: 25% LLLM; T2: 50% LLLM; T3:75% LLLM; and T4:100% LLLM). Growth performance indices, including mean weight gain (WG), mean length gain, specific growth rate (SGR), nutrient utilization and economic indices were evaluated. Other parameters assessed included proximate composition of the experimental diets using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 2019. Water parameters like pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen were also measured. The mean values recorded were pH: 7.42-7.72, Temperature: 27.1-27.6 (°C), and dissolved oxygen: 6.11-6.52 mg/L, all of which were within acceptable limits for the growth of the African catfish. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, and significant differences among means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at p < 0.05. Fish fed the control diet (T0) recorded initial mean weight gain (176.5±4.3g) and highest final mean weight gain (678.9 ± 19.2 g) and specific growth rate (1.46 ± 0.05 % day⁻¹). At 25% inclusion(T5), Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal (LLLM) recorded an initial mean weight gain of (175.1±3.9g). It produced a final mean weight gain of (480.4±16.5g) and SGR of (1.23± 0.04 % day⁻¹). However, at 100% inclusion (T4), Final mean weight gain declined sharply to 378.2 ± 12.8g for LLLM test diets and with corresponding SGR values of (0.97 ± 0.02) respectively. Significant difference among the means (p<0.05) were observed. Also, for the length gain, Fish fed the control diet (T0) recorded initial mean length gain (8.7±0.12cm) and highest final mean length (18.2 ±0.35cm). At 25% inclusion(T1), Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal (LLLM) recorded an initial mean length of (8.6±0.10cm). It produced a final mean length gain of (17.48±0.30cm). However, at 100% inclusion (T4), Final mean length gain reduced to (15.14 ±0.23cm) for ECLM test diets inclusion level increased. There were significant differences among the means (p<0.05). In conclusion, T1,25% Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal demonstrated superior growth performance and better profitability among the test diets.