Cost and Benefit of Utilizing Processed Moringa oleifera Seed Meal in The Diets of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Abstract

The study evaluated the economic potentials of processed Moringa oleifera seed meal as alternative dietary ingredient to fishmeal for Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated, in which the processed seed meal replaced fishmeal at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 %, representing diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The fingerlings were fed the experimental diets for a period of twelve weeks. The highest economic conversion ratio 280.08±5.42 was recorded in fish fed the control diet T1 (0%) and was significantly different (p<0.05) from those of other treatments. Highest cost of feed consumed (176.53±0.57) was also recorded in fish fed the control diet, which was significantly different (p<0.05) from the remaining treatments. The lowest and highest profit indices of 0.80±0.00 and 1.58±0.01were recorded in fish fed diets T1 (0%) and T5 (80%), respectively. Incidence of cost was highest (12.41±1.00) in fish fed diet T1 (0%) and was not significantly different (p>0.05) with T2 (20%). Considering the lowest feed cost and highest profit index recorded in T5 (80%) which represents 42.52 % cost contribution of fish meal and 15.46 % of Moringa seed meal to the diet clearly indicates that more profit would be generated from fish produced on this inclusion level and is hereby recommended