Utilization Of Fermented Mucuna Pruriens Leaf Meal As A Replacement For Soyabean Meal In Clarias Gariepinus (burchell 1822) Fingerlings Diets

Feeding trial was conducted in 18 plastic tanks (60 × 45× 30 cm) to assess the performance of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed diets containing fermented Mucuna pruriens leaf meal as an alternative protein source to soya bean meal. Five iso-nitrogenous (crude protein- 40%) diets were formulated containing Fermented Mucuna pruriens leaf meal at A(100%F MLM), B(75% FMLM), C(50% FMLM), D(25% FMLM) and E(0% FMLM) (control) were fed at 5% to triplicate groups of 10 fingerlings (mean weight ranged from 6.20±1.96g – 6.80±1.97g) of C. gariepinus for a period of twelve (12) weeks. The Mucuna pruriens leaves were collected and processed by Air-dried Mucuna Leaf Meal (ADMLM), Soaked Mucuna Leaf Meal in cold water (SCMLM), Soaked Mucuna Leaf Meal in hot water (SHMLM) and Fermented Mucuna Leaf Meal (FMLM). Proximate analysis showed that FMLM had highest value (25.94±0.94%) of crude protein. Analysis of anti-nutritional factors showed that hydrocyanic acid, oxalate, phytate, saponin, and tannin were reduced significantly (P<0.05) after processing the Mucuna leaf meal. The raw and fermented Mucuna pruriens leaf meal recorded revealed there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in values of mineral composition (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, manganese, copper, zinc and iron). Growth performance and nutrient utilization parameters indicate that E(0% MLM) gave the highest weight gain (168.87±3.97g) but did not significantly (P>0.05) differ from E(25% MLM), (161.30±6.12g) and the lowest weight gain (89.70±1.96g) was recorded in B(100% MLM). Similarly, the highest specific growth rate (3.79g) was recorded in F(0% MLM) (control) followed by E(25% MLM) which had (3.79±0.03g) and the least value (3.10±0.02g) was obtained in B(100% MLM). However, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and gross feed conversion efficiency (GFCE) were not significantly different (P>0.05) among the dietary treatments. The highest FCR (1.72±0.12) and least (1.50±0.02) were obtained in A(100% MLM) and E(0%FMLM) respectively. The highest (66.54±0.98) and least (58.67±4.47) were recorded in E(0% FMLM) and A(100% MLM), for GFCE respectively. The highest PER (1.64±0.03) and least (1.47±0.11) were obtained in E(0%FMLM) and A(100% FMLM), respectively. Apparent protein digestibility recorded highest value (61.40±0.60) in diet E(0% FMLM) and least was recorded in diet A(100% MLM) (55.87±±0.90).Cost benefit analysis showed that D(25%FMLM) had cost per kilogram of diet (₦350±17.32) and profit index (2.60±0.11) while A(100% MLM) recorded least cost per ilogram of feed (₦230±5.77) with correspondingly lowest profit index (1.69±0.06). The result from this study indicated that Fermented Mucuna pruriens leaf meal diet can replace soya bean meal up to 25% in the diets for C. gariepinus without compromising growth performance, nutrient utilization apparent digestibility coefficient and cost of production.

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