Nutrition evaluation and Growth Performance of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed Varying inclusions of Toasted Tamarindus indica seed Meal

Abstract

Ninety (90) fingerlings of Clarias gariepinus with mean weight of 2.23± 0.21g were fed three diets for 56 days in plastic bowls. The experiment was conducted to utilize toasted Tamarindus indica seed meal (TTSM) as a replacement for groundnut cake. The three diets were formulated to contain 40% crude protein and 5% lipid. The TTSM seed meal (TTSM) was included at three inclusion levels viz 0%, 50% and 100% designated as diet1 (0% TTSM inclusion), diet 2 (50% TTSM), and diet 3 (100% TTSM inclusion). At the end of the experiment, the result showed significant differences (P>0.05) in the growth parameters evaluated. Diet with the inclusion of 50% TTSM had the highest growth performance and exhibited the best specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and apparent net protein utilization (ANPU). This indicated that T. indica seed can be utilized by Clarias gariepinus in its diets up to 50% inclusion as replacement for groundnut cake without any adverse effect