NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF COOKED Tamarindus indica SEED MEAL AND PERFORMANCE OF Clarias gariepinus FINGERLINGS

Abstract

Attempt for alternate protein source from plant is desirable in aquaculture feed industry. This had necessitated the research into conducting a 56day feeding trial to evaluate the nutrient utilization and growth performance of Clarias gariepinus f ingerlings mean weight 3.54±0.04g fed varying inclusion levels of cooked T amarindus indica seed meal (CTM). Experimental diets were prepared at 40% crude protein at three inclusion levels (0%, 50% and 100%) as replacement for full fat soyabean meal. The weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), apparent net protein utilization (ANPU) determined as growth indices were found significant (p<0.05) for the treatments. Among of the three diets, diet three (100% CTM) performed best after the control diet (0% CTM) with significant (p<0.05) growth parameters values. Body carcass compositions recorded significantly high (p<0.05) body lipid as inclusion level of CTM increased. Therefore, cooked Tamarindus indica seed meal can substitute for soyabean meal in the diet of Clarias gariepinus without adverse effect.