DIGESTIBILITY AND NUTRIENT UTILIZATION OF DIFFERENTLY PROCESSED TROPICAL ALMOND (TERMINALIA CATAPPA) KERNEL MEAL AND CAKE BASED DIETS BY CLARIAS GARIEPINUS JUVENILES

This study examined the nutrient digestibility and utilization indices of differently processed tropical almond ( Terminalia catappa ) kernel for Clarias gariepinus juveniles. A total of 420 C. gariepinus stocked at 20 fish /65 litres plastic tank were allocated to seven dietary treatments in triplicates of differently processed almond kernel meal of Raw (RWAM), Boiled (BOAM), Soaked (SOAM), Roasted (ROAM), Mechanically Extracted cake (MEAC), Solvent Extracted cake (SEAC) and control (REFR) diet. Fish were fed at 3% of their body weight twice daily, the excess feed siphoned out after 45 minutes while faecal collection was done 8 hours after every feeding. Apparent digestibility co-efficient of crude protein (ADCP), Gross energy (ADCGE) and dry matter (ADCDM) were calculated from the results of proximate analysis of treatment diets and faeces. Nutrient utilization indices were calculated from records of feeds administered and weights of fish. ROAM had the highest ADCP and ADCGE with 89.03% and 88.51%, respectively, while the lowest were recorded in SEAC (87.06%) and REFR (86.80%) respectively. There were significant differences (p 0.05) in the PI and NPU values while there were significant differences (p<0.05) between ROAM and the other treatments for PER and NM. Clarias gariepinus can effectively digest and utilize raw and differently processed Almond kernel meal and cake with the roasted meal and mechanically extracted cake having better nutrient digestibility and utilization indices.

[1]  O. Agbebi,et al.  Growth performance and nutrient utilization of post fingerlings Clarias gariepinus fed varied levels of biscuit waste , 2020, Nigerian Journal of Animal Production.

[2]  A. Falaye,et al.  Nutritive potential of plantain peel meal and replacement value for maize in diets of African Catfish Clarias gariepinus fingerlings 488 , 2016 .

[3]  A. Falaye,et al.  Apparent Digestibility Coefficient of Differently Processed Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) For Clarias gariepinus Juveniles , 2014 .

[4]  L. Agbabiaka,et al.  Haematology and Serum Characteristics of African Catfish ( Clarias gariepinus Burchell) Fed Graded Levels of Tigernut Based Diet , 2013 .

[5]  B. Emikpe,et al.  The Effect of Walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) Leaf and Onion (Allium cepa) Bulb Residues on the Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles , 2012 .

[6]  A. O. Sotolu,et al.  DIGESTIBILITY AND PERFORMANCE OF WATER HYACINTH MEAL IN THE DIETS OF AFRICAN CATFISH (Clarias gariepinus; BURCHELL, 1822) , 2011 .

[7]  N. J. Ogundun,et al.  Changes in chemical composition and bioassay assessment of nutritional potentials of almond fruit waste as an alternative feedstuff for livestock , 2010 .

[8]  D. Gatlin.  Principles of Fish Nutrition , 2010 .

[9]  A. O. Sotolu,et al.  Growth performance and haematology of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) fed varying inclusions of Leucaena leucocephala seed meal based-diets. , 2009 .

[10]  K. Soetan.  Pharmacological and other beneficial effects of antinutritional factors in plants - A review , 2008 .

[11]  O. Fagbenro,et al.  Growth Performance, Body Composition, Haematology and Product Quality of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fed Diets with Palm Oil , 2007 .

[12]  L. Nwanna.  Nutritional value and digestibility of fermented shrimp head waste meal by African catfish Clarias gariepinus , 2003 .

[13]  G. Degani,et al.  Apparent digestibility coefficient of protein sources for carp, Cyprinus carpio L. , 1997 .

[14]  O. Fagbenro.  Preparation, properties and preservation of lactic acid fermented shrimp heads , 1996 .

[15]  A. Falaye.  Utilization of agro-industrial wastes as fish feedstuffs in Nigeria , 1993 .

[16]  J. Castell,et al.  Report of the EIFAC, IUNS and ICES Working Group on standardization of methodology in fish nutrition research. (Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany, 21-23 March 1979). , 1980 .

[17]  K. F. Lagler.  Freshwater fishery biology , 1953 .

[18]  A. R.,et al.  The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa , 1938, Nature.