Comparative evaluation of heat-processed Winged bean ( Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) meals as partial replacement for fish meal in diets for the African catfish ( Clarias gariepinus)

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Mature winged bean ( Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) (cultivar Tpt26) seeds were roasted or autoclaved and their meals evaluated as a dietary protein source for the African catfish. Five dry practical diets (400 g protein/kg and 17.5 kJ gross energy/g dry diet) containing menhaden fish meal or each of the heat-processed winged bean meals as partial replacement (80%), (with or without 5 g dl-methionine/kg diet supplementation) for menhaden fish meal, were prepared and fed to triplicate groups of catfish fingerlings (5.8±1.2 g) to satiation for 70 days. No mortality occurred throughout the study and satisfactory diet acceptance was observed when the heat-processed winged bean meals replaced menhaden fish meal. Differences were found in weight gain, specific growth rate, feed and protein efficiency ratios, but were not significant ( P>0.05). Digestibility of crude protein and gross energy content of the diets were high (>85%) and comparable to that of menhaden fish meal. Carcass composition of catfish did not vary significantly ( P>0.05) between diet treatments. Results indicate that both autoclaved and roasted winged bean meals were acceptable as protein sources and can replace 80% of menhaden fish meal in catfish diets.