ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF Pueraria phaseoloides LEAF MEAL INCLUSION DIETS FED TO Clarias gariepinus JUVENILES

Abstract

Modern aquaculture calls for the reduction of feed costs, which is partly achievable via dietary plant protein
inclusion. A 70-day feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the economic viability of inclusion of
Pueraria phaseoloides leaf meal (PLM) as a protein ingredient in the diets of Clarias gariepinus juveniles. Five
isonitrogenous diets (D1-D5) were formulated to contain 40% crude protein with inclusion of PLM at 0%, 5%,
10%, 15% and 20% levels, respectively. D1 (0% PLM) served as the control diet. One hundred and fifty C.
gariepinus juveniles of initial mean weight of 79.87 ± 5.85 g were randomly allocated to five dietary groups (G1-
G5) and three replicates each, and fed with the five PLM formulated diets, respectively, at 5% biomass daily.
Fifteen concrete tanks of volume 1m3 each were used for the experiment. Each tank was stocked with ten juveniles.
Results showed that the cost/benefit ratio increased with the levels of inclusion of PLM. Hence, D5 (20% PLM)
gave the highest cost/benefit ratio of 1:2.38 while D1 (0% PLM) gave the least cost/benefit ratio of 1:1.87. The
present findings showed that PLM can be included in C. gariepinus diet up to 20% level for profit maximization
in the aquaculture industry.