Abstract
Nutrient composition analysis was conducted for selected locally available plant based feedstuffs from Mpamba area in NkhataBay district of northern Malawi. The objective was to identify and isolate those that can be used as ingredients in the formulation of affordable and quality fish feeds to increase pond based fish production in Malawi. The following plant based feedstuffs were collected: Cassava (Manihot esculenta) peels (CP) and leaves (CL) Pawpaw (Carica papaya) leaves (PL), Sweet potato (Ipomea batatus) leaves, meal and tubers (SPL), (SPP) and (SPM) Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) (JF), Mexican fireplant (MF) (Euphorbia heterophylla), Black jack (Bidens pilosa) (BJ), Banana (Musa balbisiana) leaves (BL), Maize (Zea maise) bran (MZB), and Akee (Blighia sapid) leaves (AK). Results showed that Cassava (Manihot esculenta) leaves, Black jack (Bidens pilosa) and Cocoyam (Caladium bicolor) leaves contain significantly high levels of crude protein: 21.17 ± 0.56%, 24.35 ± 0.7% and 24.28 ± 0.11% respectively. Energy levels ranged from 29.7 kj/g to 8.78 kj/g for Sweet potato leaves and cassava peels respectively. In addition, all plant feedstuffs had low levels of crude fiber ranging from 3.78 ± 0.20% to 16.84 ± 0.26%. Depending on their availability, potential, competition for other uses, crude protein, energy, crude fiber levels, most of the leaves analyzed demonstrated to be potential sources of fish feed. This suggests that while leaves have been utilized in low input aquaculture systems, they may serve as feeds for fish once the plant feedstuffs are appropriately incorporated in formulated diets and alternatively as organic fertilizers.
Highlights
Nutrition is critical in fish production because feed represents 40-50% of the total variable costs [1]
This feed ingredient has been recommended by extension services since the 1940s, but it has low protein content (10-11%) and a poor food-conversion ratio (FCR) of 12-20:1 [3].While the availability of maize bran is usually good, it can vary by region or season, and when there is a general shortage of maize, maize bran faces competing uses as it is a major source of feed for livestock such as pigs and may be consumed directly by poorer families, not sustainable in production of fish feeds
The part of Cassava that were collected for analysis were leaves (CL) and peels (CP), Sweet potato peels (SPP), leaves (SPL) and tuber (SPM), whole Balck Jack (BJ), Banana leaves (BL), Pawpaw leaves (PPL), maize bran (MZB), Cococyum leaves (CYL), Mexican fire plant leaves (MFP), Jackfruit leaves (JK) and Akee leaves (AK)
Summary
Nutrition is critical in fish production because feed represents 40-50% of the total variable costs [1]. Most small scale fish farmers in Malawi are not able to buy animal based fish feeds and legumes like fishmeal and soybean respectively, because they are expensive. This has negatively affected production and profitability of fish farming in Malawi. Access to nutritional inputs is identified as a key constraint by all fish farmers in Malawi [2]. Over 90% of all fish farmers use primarily maize bran (madeya) as fish feed. This feed ingredient has been recommended by extension services since the 1940s, but it has low protein content (10-11%) and a poor food-conversion ratio (FCR) of 12-20:1 [3].While the availability of maize bran is usually good, it can vary by region or season, and when there is a general shortage of maize (the Malawian food staple), maize bran faces competing uses as it is a major source of feed for livestock such as pigs and may be consumed directly by poorer families, not sustainable in production of fish feeds
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