Replacement of Soyabean Meal with Toasted Leucaena leucocephala Seed Meal in the Diet of Catfish Hybrid (Clarias gariepinus ♀ X Heterobranchus longifilis ♂) Post Fingerlings

Abstract

Ground toasted Leucaena leucocephala seed (TLLS) was incorporated as a non-convectional feedstuff at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50% replacement level for Soyabean cake; and fed to clariid catfish hybrid “Heteroclarias” (Clarias gariepinus ♀ x Heterobranchus longifilis ♂) post fingerlings in plastic tanks and fed to satiation twice daily. All feeds contained 40% crude protein (CP). The mean weight gain of fish, feed intake and specific growth rate showed no significant difference (ANOVA: P > 0.05) between treatment I and II, but were significantly different from treatments III, IV and V. The percentage weight gain and protein efficiency ratio were not significantly difference (ANOVA: P > 0.05) among all the treatments, feed conversion ratio was significantly difference (ANOVA: P> 0.05). The mean weight-gain of fish, percentage weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio was significantly superior in treatment I (control), while treatment II was the next in terms of superior ranking. Treatment IV, V and VI did not favor fish growth and feed utilization. Survival among treatments slightly varied but not as a result of the feed treatments. At the end of the experiment, the recommended inclusion level of toasted Leucaena leucocephala seed meal was 10% as a possible replacement for soybean seed meal.