PROXIMATE CARCASS COMPOSITION OF Clarias gariepinus (TEUGELS) FED DIFFERENT DIETARY LEVELS OF Bauhinia monandra SEED MEAL

Abstract

The efficacy of soaked Bauhinia monandra (Kutz) seed as a replacement of dietary fish meal protein in the diet for Clarias gariepinus was evaluated and the cost of feed compounded or rather manufactured was also determined. The proximate analysis of the diet (crude protein, crude fibre, ash, moisture content and lipid) were determined according to Standard Methods of AOAC (1980). The analyses were conducted in triplicate and all reagents were of analytical grade. Data for each parameter were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA), while means of various results were compared at 5% level of significance. A preliminary study was conducted to determine the best processing method that reduced anti-nutrients to the minimum level without impairing nutrients composition. Boiled, toasted and soaked seeds were used. Bauhinia seeds soaked for 96 hours had least concentration of anti-nutrients. The experimental diets were formulated to contain soaked Bauhinia seed meal (SBSM₉₆) at levels of 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% inclusion (Diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively) with two diets acting as control (Diets 1 and Diet 5). All diets were isonitrogenous (40% crude protein) and isocaloric (3212kcal/kg). A 12-week feeding trial was conducted using juveniles which were randomly distributed into 12 improvised non-recirculatory and semi-flow through indoor plastic tanks (52cm X 34cm X 33.5cm) at a stocking rate of 10 fish per tank and three (3) replicates per treatment. The experimental design was complete randomised. The fish were fed at 5% body weight, twice daily. The initial percentage composition of fish carcass was determined in relation to Crude Protein (CP), Ether Extract (EE) and Ash (ASH). The initial carcass composition for fish fed soaked Bauhinia seed meal (SBSM₉₆) were recorded as CP (56.91%), lipid (12.77%), Ash (17.08) respectively. The final fish composition indicated a general trend of increase in CP and lipid which increased significantly (P < 0.05). The fish carcass protein of all dietary treatments were higher than the initial carcass protein, indicating that there was synthesis and increased tissue protein production. The body fat in fish fed Diets-4 (75% SBSM₉₆) and Diet-5 (100% Commercial feed Alltech® Coppens) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than all other diets indicating enhanced production of lipids in these groups of fish. The results obtained from fish fed Soaked Bauhinia seed meal diets showed that fish carcass ash content decreased with increase in crude protein and lipid. The increased carcass protein in all the treatment diets indicated that Bauhinia seed meal has the potential of replacing fish meal. In terms of the relative costs of diets per unit weight gain and protein gain, Diet-2 (25% SBSM₉₆) was most economical and therefore could replace fish meal effectively without adverse effects.