ABSTRACT
The study compared growth performance of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed sweet potato leaf meal and rice bran as alternative feed meal. Five diets, that contain 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% inclusion levels were formulated and designated as SPM1 SPM2 SPM3 SPM4 SPM5 and RBM1 RBM2 RBM3 RBM4 RBM5. Highest initial weight in SPLM3 (50%) differ significantly (p>0.05) from SPLM 1 (0%) while RBM4 (75%) can be compared to RBM1 (0%). Final weight and body weight gain follow similar trend with SPLM2 (50%) recorded highest, which differ significantly (p>0.05) with other diets. Decrease of SPLM inclusion level increase fish weight. Highest SGR in SPLM2 (25%) can be compared favorably with SPLM1 (0%) and other diets while RBM2 (25%) differ significantly (p>0.05) with RBM1 (0%). Diet SPLM5 (100%) can be compared with other diets in SGR with RBM3 (50%) that differ significantly (p>0.05) with only RBM1 (0%). Highest FE in SPLM1 (0%) can be compared favorably with SPLM3 (50%) and SPLM4 (75%) in feed acceptability. RBM5 (100%), which is highest differ significantly (p>0.05) with RBM1 (0%). Apart from RBM4 (75%) other diets were accepted by the fish. It is therefore recommended that 25% inclusion level of SPM should be used in the diet of C . gariepinus for better performance than even 75% inclusion of rice bran, study on lower inclusion level of SPM need to be carried out, this type of study need to carried out on other cultured species of fish such as Heterobranchus (catfish) and even Tilapia, study on the use of other processing methods of sweet potato leaf and rice bran for feed formulation should be carried out and this type of study need to be carried out in other culture system.
Keywords: Growth Assessment, Clarias gareipinus, Sweet potato leaf, Rice bran, meal.