Abstract

The effects of diet with different inclusion levels of baobab seed meal inclusions on the growth and gross margin analysis of Clarias gaiepinus fingerlings was evaluated under a controlled laboratory condition. Five inclusion levels of Baobab Seed Meal (BSM) to replace soya bean meal were studied at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% dietary protein. The experimental diets were uniform by targeting 40% crude protein with energy level of 20 MJ/kg. Fingerlings of C. gariepinus with an average weight (g) of 2.91 ± 0.16 g were reared for 90 days in plastic aquaria. Feed intake, weight gain, feed efficiency ratio (FER), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and survival rates (SR %) were evaluated, using standard formula. Significantly higher growth (p<0.05) was obtained from the fish fed with Diet Two (5% BSM) and Diet Three (10% BSM) than the fish fed with control diet. The best utilized diet for C. gariepinus was Diet Two in relation to weight gained and total fish production. Therefore, Baobab seed meal can serve as a worthy unconventional feed ingredient in the diet of C. gariepinus at 10% level of inclusion for maximum profit, although 5% BSM inclusion recorded the best growth performance.

Key words: Growth parameter, Clarias gariepinus, Baobab seed meal, fingerlings.

Abbreviation

BSM, Baobab seed meal; SBM, Soya bean meal; PER, Profit efficiency ratio; FER, Feed efficiency ratio; SR%, Percentage of survival rates; FCR, Feed conversion ratio; SGR, Specific growth rates; BCR, Benefit cost ratio.