EVALUATION OF Leucaena AND Gliricidia LEAF PROTEIN CONCENTRATE
AS SUPPLEMENTS TO BAMBARA GROUNDNUT (Vignas subterranean(L.
Verdc) IN THE DIET OF Oreochromis niloticus
Abstract
A 56-day growth trial was conducted to assess the response of Oreochromis niloticus fed either cooked or toasted bambara groundnut (Bam-nut) supplemented with either Leucaena leucocephala or Gliricidia sepium leaf protein (LP) as either total or partial replacement for groundnut cake in the control diet. Either of the LP supplied equiprotein in the diets and all diets were formulated at 30% crude protein.
Fish (average weight 8.4g) were randomly assigned in triplicates of 30 fish per dietary treatment and fed at 5% body weight daily for 8 weeks. Fish fed Bam-nut supplemented with Gliricidia was superior in growth, nutrient utilization, crude protein digestibility, carcass crude protein, least feed conversion ratio and best feed efficiency ratio. Fish fed cooked Bam-nut supplemented with Gliricidia had higher weight gain, proteinefficiency ratio, specific growth rate and net protein utilization. The least values in fish growth, nutrient utilization, ash digestibility, carcass lipid and ash occurred in fish fed combination of bambara groundnut and groundnut cake. Toasted Bam-nutsupplemented with leaf protein gave the best crude protein digestibility followed by the fish fed a mixture Bam-nut and groundnut cake.