Effect of dietary replacement of soyabean meal with toasted lima bean meal on the growth and nutrient utilization of heteroclarias juveniles

Abstract

This study examined the substitution of Soya bean meal with Lima beans meal (LBM) in practical diets for Clariid Hybrid catfish (Heteroclarias). Six iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric diets with a crude protein level of 40% and energy level of 15% were formulated and fed to Heteroclarias juveniles. Treatment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 had soybean meal protein substituted with P. lunatus seed meal at 0% (control), 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% respectively. The result obtained from the study showed that the highest weight gain was recorded in treatment 4(2.28g) that was fed with diet containing 60% Lima beans meal, while Treatment 6 had the lowest weight gain value of 1.58g. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) among the six treatments in terms of feed intake. However, Treatment 6 had the highest feed intake of 4.15g, while the lowest value of feed intake (3.48g) was recorded in treatment 3. Treatment 4 had the best feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 2.20, while the worst FCR value (3.27) was recorded in treatment 5. There was a gradual increase in terms of FCR across the various treatment from Treatment 1 to treatment 5. The highest relative weight gain (RWG) was recorded in treatment 4 (28.85), this treatment was not significantly different (P>0.05) from treatment 3 (14.71) but was significantly different (P