Effects of Soaked Pigeon Peas on the Growth of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L) Fingerlings

Abstract

The demand to substitute fishmeal in Fish feed has necessitated with the use of plant-derived Feedstuffs. Though, problems of anti-nutritional factors in these feedstuffs have limited their usage and assimilation into fish feed formulation. Different processing approaches have been applied to remove or reduce the level of these anti nutrition factors in these plant- derived feedstuffs. In this study Pigeon peas (Cajanus Cajan L) were soaked in cold water (1:3 w/v) for 24 hours. Effect of soaked Pigeon peas on the growth of Nile tilapia; Oreochromis niloticus was then evaluated for a period of 54 days. Seven diets (three diets of raw pigeon peas and soaked pigeon peas and one control diet) were formulated to contain about 30% crude protein. Fishmeal was replaced by 0% (control), 15%, 30% and 45% for both raw and soaked pigeon peas. Results obtained in this study showed that growth and feed utilization of fish fed diets containing raw Pigeon peas seed meal decreased significantly (P>0.05) with increased dietary levels of raw Pigeon peas While significant results (P<0.05) were are shown for fish fed soaked Pigeon peas seed meal with 45% level inclusion performing best next to control. It was therefore concluded that whenever the cost of Pigeon peas is lesser than fish meal, Pigeon peas can be soaked for 24 hours with a ratio of 1:3 w/v to replace up to 45% fish meal in fish diets as a way of reducing the current demand pressure on fish meal