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Growth and economic performance of <i>Clarias gariepinus</i> juveniles fed diets containing velvet bean, <i>Mucuna pruriens</i>, seed meal


AZ Aderolu
VM Akpabio

Abstract

Clarias gariepinus was tested over 70 days to determine  their growth, nutrient and economic performance. The 25% fishmeal component of the  control diet was replaced with 5–15% raw or  processed mucuna seed meal and the fish were fed twice daily at 5% of their average body weight per day. The diet containing 5% raw mucuna seed meal resulted in the best specific growth rate (2.42% d–1), feed conversion ratio (2.05) and protein efficiency ratio (1.34), as well as the highest net profit of US$0.065 per fish and the  best benefit-cost ratio of 1.32. The diet containing 15% processed seed meal produced the worst results. The processing of mucuna seed resulted in improved crude protein and ether extract and a 20% reduction in crude fibre.

Keywords: Clarias gariepinus; feed utilisation; plant protein; production cost

African Journal of Aquatic Science 2009, 34(2): 131–135

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eISSN: 1727-9364
print ISSN: 1608-5914