Effect of Dietary Replacing Soybean Meal with Fluted Pumpkin Seed Meal in the Diets of African Catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of fermented fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis seed meal in the diets of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings with respect to their growth performance, feed efficiency, haematological indices, proximate composition and cost benefit analysis and nutrient utilization. Five iso-nitrogenous experimental diets were formulated to contain 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% and 100% of fermented Telfairia occidentalis seed meal and were designated as T1 (0% inclusion), T2 (25% inclusion), T3 (50% inclusion), T4 (75% inclusion) and T5 (100%) in a completely randomized design. Fifteen net hapa 1m×1m×1.2m were suspended in polythene- lined earthen pond (7m×5m×1m) with the aid of kuralon twine tied to iron pegs, the polythene lined earthen pond was filled to brim borehole water. Each treatment had three replicates with 15 fish were accommodated in each hapa (mean initial body weight (8.85±0.03 g) per fish. Water temperature and other water quality parameters were monitored daily. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, and condition factor between the treatment groups. The results show that final weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio were highest in treatment T5 in fish fed 100% (204.40g) fermented fluted pumpkin seed meal, better growth and nutrient utilization was observed in fish fed 100% fermented fluted pumpkin seed meal. The haematological indices shows that fish fed 100% fermented fluted pumpkin seed meal had better haemoglobin (14.47g/dl), packed cell volume, red blood (4.13 million/m³) cell and white blood cell. There was significant difference (P<0.05) between the haemoglobin concentration of fish fed 100% and all the others treatment group. The crude protein in the fish indicates fish fed 100% fermented fluted pumpkin seed meal was significantly better (62.42) than the other treatment groups. The cost benefit also indicates positive return for fish fed 100% fermented fluted pumpkin seed meal. This result indicated, that inclusion of fermented Telfairia occidentalis seed meal at 100% in the diet of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings improves the nutritive value for fish, hence can serve as alternative ingredients and replacement of soybean in fish feed production.