EFFECTS OF REPLACEMENT OF FISHMEAL WITH MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED MEAL ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF CATFISH (Clarias gariepinus)

 ABSTRACT

The effects of Moringa o/eifera seed meal (MSM) on the growth performance and haematological indices of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings were investigated for a period of eight (8) weeks. Five iso-nitrogenous (40% crude protein) diets were fonnulated under completely randomized experiment in which MSM replaced fish meal (FM) at 0% (Tl), 25% (T2), 50% (T3), 75% (T4) and 100% (TS) inclusion levels. Catfish fingerlings (8.35 ± 0.06 g) stocked at 10 fish per 20-litre tank in three replicates were fed (5% body weight) twice daily at 8.00 hrs to 9.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs for 8 weeks. Growth perfonnance indices showed that weight gain (WG) (g), growth rate (GR), specific growth rate (SGR), mean growth rate (MGR) and percentage weight gain of fish fed O and 25% Moringa seed meal inclusion level was significantly different (P