Preliminary Investigation on the Inclusion of Fermented Sickle Pod Senna obtusifolia Seed Meal as an Ingredient in the Diet of Clarias gariepinus Fingerlings

Abstract

A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of varying inclusion levels of fermented Senna obtusifolia seed meal in the diets of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. Five isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated, containing 40% crude protein and 9.5% lipid. Fermented Senna obtusifolia (FSOM) was included at different graded levels viz 0, 10, 20, 30 and 10% raw Senna obtusifolia (RSOM) and were designated as D1 (0 % inclusion), D2 (10 % inclusion), D3 (20 % inclusion) D4 (30 % inclusion) and D5 (10% RSOM inclusion) in a completely randomized design.Fifteen net hapa (0.5×0.5×1m) were suspended in two outdoor concrete ponds with the aid of kuralon twine tied to plastic poles, the concrete ponds were filled to 5/6 of its volume (40m3) with filtered and dechlorinated tap water. Each treatment had three replicates with 20 fish were accommodated in each hapa (mean initial body weight (2. 03±0.1g) per fish. Water temperature and other water quality parameters were monitored daily. The results showed that the fish fed D3 was significantly different from the other treatments (P<0.05) in all the growth performances indices measured. However fish fed D1, D2 and D4 were not significantly different (P>0.05) from each other but were significantly higher than fish fed 10% inclusion of raw Senna obtusifolia seed meal (D5) (P<0.05). Fish fed D4 diet had the lowest carcass moisture and highest carcass lipid among the fish fed experimental diets and was significantly different from those fed other diets (P<0.05). Carcass protein of the experimental fish was highest in fish fed D3 diet although not significantly different from fish fed D2. Fish fed D1 and D4 were similar and not significantly different from each other, but significantly different from those fed D5 (P<0.05). This study showed that fermented Senna obtusifolia seed meal would be a potential suitable ingredient for Clarias gariepinus fingerlings and that it may be included in a diet up to 30% without any adverse effect.