EVALUATION OF DRIED WATER FERN (AZOLLA PINNATA) AS A REPLACER FOR SOYBEAN DIETARY COMPONENTS FOR CLARIAS GARIEPINUS FINGERLINGS
A.E. Fasakin, A. M. Balogun-1998
Journal of Aquaculture in the Tropics 13(1): 57-64
Abstract:
Sundried water fern (Azolla pinnata) meal was substituted for soybean meal in practical diets for Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. Five isonitrogenous diet (37.5% crude protein) were formulated in which heat-treated soybean meal (48.4% crude protein) was replaced at varying levels (0 (control), 25, 50, 75 and 100%) with protein from dried Azolla meal (25.81% crude protein). Catfish fed control diet had significantly (P<0.05) better growth response and nutrient utilization. Growth depression of fish increases with increasing dietary levels of Azolla meal. Diet containing 100% level of Azolla meal gave the poorest feed conversion rate (7.8). There was marked reduction in costs in diets incorporated with Azolla meal. However, the cost of bringing about a 1 kg gain in body weight of catfish was highest in the control diet. This study showed the deficiency of sundried Azolla meal as a total replacement for heat-treated soybean meal in diets for C. gariepinus fingerlings in spite of having a favourable amino acid profile. Dry processing methods other than sundrying are suggested for improving the nutritional quality of Azolla meal in catfish diet.
(Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, Nigeria)