Author(s): Ayotunde Ezekiel O, Ada Fidelis B and Udeh Grace N

Abstract: lThe study examined the haematology, carcass composition, growth performance and nutrient utilization of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed varying levels of Moringa oleifera Leaf meal diets for a period of eight (8) weeks. Moringa oleifera Leaf meal substituted fish meal at 0% (control), 10%, 20%, and 30% in the four different diets. Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (mean weight 3.45 ± 0.03 g) were randomly distributed into 12 plastic tanks at 10 fish/tank in triplicate treatments and were fed twice daily at 8.00 hrs-9.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs-18.00 hrs for 8 weeks. The mean weight gained (MWG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) were calculated. The results obtained in the in the present study showed that fishes fed with the control diet did not show statistical significant (p>0.05) difference from fishes fed with 10%, 20% and 30% M. oleifera Leaf meal diet in mean weight gain (MWG). The haematological parameters results showed that the mean values of packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and hemoglobin (Hb) were 18.06 ± 0.34%, 3.83 ± 0.08×106 mm-3 and 6.03 ± 0.11 g/100 ml respectively in the fishes in the experiment. These parameters increased as M. oleifera Leaf meal increased in the diet. The Carcass lipid showed an increase in all the treatments with fishes fed 30% M. oleifera Leaf meal diet recording the highest value of 7.36% and the lowest value of 6.51% was recorded in fishes fed 10% M. oleifera Leaf meal diet. The present study showed that M. oleifera Leaf meal has good potential for use as fish meal substitute in C. gariepinus diet up to 10% level without compromising growth.

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