Abstract
The study evaluated the effect of partial or total supplementation of soybean meal with full‐fat Telifaria occidentalis seed meal on performance and whole body composition of Heteroclarias fingerlings. Five iso‐nitrogenous (40% crude protein) basal diets were prepared using locally available feedstuffs, while T. occidentalis seed meal was added at varying inclusion levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). One hundred and fifty apparently healthy Heteroclarias fingerlings (4.26 ± 0.26 g) were stocked in glass tanks (50 L capacity) at 10 fish / tank with each treatment in triplicate. Fish were fed at 5% body weight in two equal portions daily for 56 days and culture water changed on alternate days. The result of this study showed a significant variation (p < .05) in crude protein and lipid contents of whole body composition of Heteroclarias fingerlings‐fed T. occidentalis seed meal supplemented diets compared with the control. Increasing levels of fat and protein deposition were also observed in the muscle of Heteroclarias with increase in T. occidentalis. Also, some growth evaluation indices (weight gain, specific growth rate, feed intake, and protein efficiency ratio) of Heteroclarias fingerlings decreased with increase in inclusion levels of T. occidentalis seed meal. Dissolved oxygen in culture units also decreased with increase in T. occidentalis. From this study, chemical body composition of Heteroclarias fed T. occidentalis seed meal supplemented diets increased with increase in inclusion levels, while the reverse was the case in weight gain. There was a decline in the quantity of dissolved oxygen with increase in quantity of T. occidentalis seed meal. Other water parameters such as pH, temperature, nitrate, and ammonia were within the limits for culturing tropical fish species.
Highlights
Fish is a high-quality food containing first-class protein and nutrients, important for human health and growth (Olaifa, Oladapo, & Bello, 2010)
Telfairia occidentalis seeds have high nutritive values such as protein, fats and oils, and minerals but their utilization could be affected by the presence of antinutritional factors such as lectins and trypsin inhibitor that are present in the seeds (Kuku, Etti, & Ibironke, 2014)
The plant is important for its edible seeds which are rich in protein and fat (Ajiboye, Yakubu, & Adams, 2012); the leaves constitute an important component of the diet of many people in West African Countries (Akwaowo, Ndon, & Etuk, 2000) and are rich sources of protein, oil, vitamins, minerals, which nourishes, protects and heals the body (Nwanna, Falaye, & Sotolu, 2008)
Summary
Fish is a high-quality food containing first-class protein and nutrients, important for human health and growth (Olaifa, Oladapo, & Bello, 2010). Different fish species have been used as foods by humans from ancient times and form an important part of the diet in many countries (Haard, 1992 and Macrae, Robinson, & Sadler, 1993). They are generally low in cholesterol compared to meat from terrestrial animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of partial or total replacement of soybean with T. occidentalis seed meal on the growth and whole body composition of Heteroclarias
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