GROWTH AND COST BENEFITS OF Clarias gariepinus FINGERLINGS FED GRADED LEVELS OF OVEN-DRIED AFRICAN FAN PALM (Borassus aethiopum) SHOOT MEAL DIETS AS DIETARY ENERGY SOURCE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.6515Abstract
One kg fresh African fan palm shoots were purchased and divided into four equal-parts. 750g were vendried and 250g untreated; both were analysed for proximate composition. Oven-dried African fan palm shoot meal (ODAFPMS) was substituted for Maize meal at five graded levels of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% and diets were coded ODAFPMS1, ODAFPSM2, ODAFPSM3, ODAFPSM4 and ODAFPSM5 and fed to Clarias gariepinus fingerlings of mean weight (2.92±0.10g) and length (5.70±0.50 cm) stocked at fifteen fingerlings per circular tank of 50 litres each in triplicate for 70 days. Weekly weight and length were recorded and data generated were analyzed using ANOVA. The results of the experiment showed fibre was lowered in oven-dried compared to the raw AFPS. ODAFPSM1 gave the highest mean weight gain of 12.73g/fish followed ODAFPSM4 with 6.60g/fish and lowest was from ODAFPSM5 having 5.18g/fish. The feed conversion ratio ranged from 0.50 – 1.06 which are significantly different (p<0.05). The final condition factor ranged from 0.68 -1.33; highest from ODAFPSM1 and lowest from
ODAFPSM5 and these are significantly different (p<0.05). Similarly, highest net profit, profit index and benefit cost ratio of 332.20, 6.31, and 4.27 respectively were from ODAFPSM 1 followed 285.39, 5.97 and 4.01 respectively from ODAFPSM 2. This study recommended ODAFPSM2 and ODAFPSM3 to supplement for maize which is a onventional ingredient for optimum growth performance and economic benefit in sustainable aquaculture.
