Replacement Value of Soybean Meal with <i>Luffa cylindrical</i> in Diet of Clarias gariepinus Fingerlings

Abstract

The study investigated the effects of replacing soybean meal with Luffa cylindrical seed meal on the growth performance of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. Five isonitrogenous diets containing soybean meal which was replaced by Luffa cylindrica at a rate of 15, 30, 45 and 60% levels were formulated. The diets without Luffa cylindrical seed meal served as the control. Experimental diets were assigned randomly to the fish in tanks and each group of fish was fed at 5% of body weight in equal proportions twice daily. There were significant (P,0.05) decreases in growth and nutrient utilization parameters of fish fed different dietary treatments containing 30 to 60 % levels of Luffa cylindrical seed meal. However, there were no significant (P>0.05) variations in growth and nutrient utilization parameters of fish fed the control diet and those fed diet containing 15% Luffah cylindrica.