ABSTRACT

The effects of Moringa o/eifera seed meal (MSM) on the growth performance and haematological indices of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings were investigated for a period of eight (8) weeks. Five iso-nitrogenous (40% crude protein) diets were fonnulated under completely randomized experiment in which MSM replaced fish meal (FM) at 0% (Tl), 25% (T2), 50% (T3), 75% (T4) and 100% (TS) inclusion levels. Catfish fingerlings (8.35 ± 0.06 g) stocked at 10 fish per 20-litre tank in three replicates were fed (5% body weight) twice daily at 8.00 hrs to 9.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs for 8 weeks. Growth perfonnance indices showed that weight gain (WG) (g), growth rate (GR), specific growth rate (SGR), mean growth rate (MGR) and percentage weight gain of fish fed O and 25% Moringa seed meal inclusion level was significantly different (P<0.05) from fish fed with 50, 75 and 100% inclusion level. Food utilization indices showed that fish fed with control (0%) and 25% diets consumed significantly (P<0.05) more feed (17.47 ±1.28 g) than fish fed with 50, 75 and 100% MSM (6.31± 0.58). Also, food conversion ratio (FCR) and Daily weight gain (DWG) were significantly different (P<0.05) among the treatment with Oand 25% not significantly different

There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the hematological values except for heamoglobin and MCH with less significant differences. PCV was highest (36.00%) in fish fed diet Diet 5 while the lowest (30.67%) was recorded in Diet 3.