AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGY JOURNAL OF NORTH AMERICA ISSN Print: 2151-7517, ISSN Online: 2151-7525, doi:10.5251/abjna.2013.4.2.155.159

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Plantain peels as dietary supplement in practical diets for African catfish (Clarias gariepinus burchell 1822 ) fingerlings

*Agbabiaka, L.A1, Okorie. K.C2 and Ezeafulukwe .C.F3

1. Department of Fisheries Technology, Federal Polytechnic ,Nekede - Owerri, Nigeria 2. Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Imo state University- Owerri, Nigeria

3. Department of Fisheries/Marine Technology, Imo state Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Nigeria *adegokson2@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth response of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fed varying levels of plantain peel based diets. 150 Clarias gariepinus fingerlings with mean body weight 2.6±0.1g were assigned to five diets (CP = 40%) in which plantain peel meal replaced maize at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% respectively in a completely randomized design. The trial fish were fed at 5% body weight daily for a period of 72 days. Data collected showed that body weight gain increased with increase plantain peel meal in the diet (p<0.05). Similar observation was recorded for feed intake but there was no significant (p>0.05) difference in feed conversion ratio among the treatments. All the fish fed the test ingredient performed better than the control group; hence, plantain peel meal could be recommended as a dietary supplement in the diets of African catfish.

Key words: Plantain peel, Clarias gariepinus, replacement, growth performance, diets.

INTRODUCTION

Fish is generally accepted as protein source in diets of average Nigerians (Agbabiaka, 2010a). Nutritionally, fish is about the cheapest and direct source of protein and micro nutrients for several millions of Africans (Bene and Heck, 2005). Feed accounts for minimum of 60% of the total cost of fish production in Africa (Jamu and Ayinla, 2003) and a major factor that determines the viability and profitability of fish farming enterprise. Aquaculture development in sub-Sahara Africa including Nigeria has been reported to be insignificant compared to the rest of Europe and Asia (Changadeya et al.,2003)perhaps due to non availability of quality

feed at economic prices .

In view of this, many studies have been conducted on the use of unorthodox feedstuffs such as root and tubers, and their by-products which can probably reduce feed cost and ultimately the production cost in fish farming in particular and monogastric animal agriculture in general. Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) also known as Ogede (Hausa), Agbagba (Yoruba) and Ogadejoku (Igbo) is a tropical plant with more than 50% produced in Africa (Akyeampong, 1999). Nigeria is one of the largest plantain producing countries in the world; available data has show that Nigeria produced 2.103 million tons of plantain,

harvested from 389,000ha in the year 2004 (FAO, 2005).

Akinyele and Agboro (2007) reported over 2,000 small scale plantain chips processing companies in Lagos metropolis alone that discards the peels after utilizing the starchy fruit, hence, constituting an environmental and disposal problems . Locally, plantain peels are used for “local” soap production. The leaves are also used for wrapping, packaging and often used as roofing material in the villages. Recently, plantain peels have been used as composite feedstuff for growing snails (Omole et al.,2004) but there is paucity of information on its

potential as feedstuff for African catfish diets.

This study is therefore designed to investigate the effect of replacing maize with plantain peels as energy supplement in diets of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental site and sample preparation: The experiment was conducted at the Department of Fisheries Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri. The sample (plantain peels) were collected from plantain processors at “new market” Owerri. They were sun-dried for two weeks, grind and sieved

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to produce plantain peel meal. Sample of the meal was analysed for proximate composition and phytochemistry (tables 1 and 3) Feed formulation: The meale produced (plantain peels) was mixed with other feeding ingredients to formulate five-isonitrogeneous diet at 40% crude protein in which plantain peel meal was used to replace maize at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% respectively, while the control diet (0%) contained no plantain peel meal. The diets produced were passed through a pelleting machine of die 2mm to produce pellets. Thereafter, the pelleted feeds were sun dried to crispy for four (4) days to prevent the growth of moulds and were packed in waterproof bags and labelled accordingly before storage at room temperature. Experimental fish and design: One hundred and fifty African catfish fingerlings with average 2.6g body weight were purchased from a commercial hatchery in Owerri. They were acclimated for seven (7) days and fed with control diet (0%). Subsequently, they were randomly assigned to the five treatment diet at 30 fish per treatment in hapa measuring 1x1x1m suspended in outdoor concrete tank measuring 5x4x1.2m. Each treatment is replicated trice in a completely randomized design having ten fish per replicate. They were fed the experimental diet for period of 12 weeks at the rate of 5% body weight per day, shared between morning (7 – 8 am) and evening (5 – 6 pm). Data collection and statistical analysis: The experimental fish (fingerlings) in each hapa were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and forth nightly, using a digital weighing balance and returned into the respective hapas thereafter, their feed intake were adjusted according to the new body weight gained forth nightly. Data on feed intake, weight gained and feed conversion ratio for the five groups were collected and subjected to analysis of variance, where significant difference was detected, means were separated using multiple range tests as outlined by Obi (1990). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The crude protein content of the plantain peel (13.73%) is higher than the values of (7.15 – 9.70%)

reported for tigernut meal and maize (Aduku, 1993 ; Oladele and Aina, 2007; Agbabiaka et al.,2012). However, the crude protein content of the diets increased with increased dietary inclusion of plantain peel meal (table 4). This is attributed to superior crude protein content of the test ingredient used over maize (table 1). Table 1: Proximate composition of the test ingredient (plantain peel meal)

Nutrients Concentration (%)

Moisture 8.57 Crude protein 13.73 Fat 9.46 Carbohydrate 51.86 Ash 10.30 Fibre 6.00

The weight gain and specific growth rate of the fish fed plantain peel based diets were superior to the control group (p<0.05) except at 25% dietary inclusion which was not significantly (p>0.05) different from group of fish fed the control diet. It should be noted that culture fish in concrete ponds and other artificial enclosures relies solely on nutrients from the feed for growth with little or no contribution from natural food, hence, the general increase in weights of the trial fish was an indication that all the diets met the nutrient requirement for growth in African catfish particularly the crude protein (CP = 40%) and perhaps the protein-energy ratio (Fagbenro and Arowosoge ,1991 ; Agbabiaka 2010b). All the plantain peel diets supported growth more than control control perhaps due to the medium where fish lives which might have encouraged leaching of anti-nutrients especially the polyphenols. The improve weight gain in plantain peel treatments can also be due to the fibre content of the diets being lower than that of the control (table 4). Though, all the dietary treatments have fibre concentrations within the recommended range of 8% for catfish (Davis,1985). Bichi and Ahmad (2010) also reported better utilization of cassava leaves by Nile Tilapia (O. niloticus). Similar observation was recorded when cassava peel and leaves, yam peel meal were fed to Rabbits (Agunbiade et al.,1999 ; Ayoola and Akinbami 2011) respectively .This is in agreement with finding of Omole et al. (2004) when snails were

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fed composite meal containing peels of mango, plantain, cocoyam and pawpaw. Unlike salmonids, significant amount of amylase and cellulase have been reported in catfish such as Clarias species ( Olatunde et al.,1988 ; Fagbenro, 1990 ; Fagbenro et al., 2000) which perhaps was responsible for the breakdown of cell wall material in plantain peels couple with the grinding effects of the

vomerine teeth, characteristics of Clariid catfishes which exposes the cell wall surface area to digestion. The feed intake of the trial fish is directly proportional to the dietary level of the plantain peels. It has been reported that feed intake of the monogastrics including fishes is a function of the dietary energy, that is, animals will continue to eat until the energy requirement is met (Esonu,2000).

Table 2: Gross composition of experimental diets fed to African catfish fingerlings

Dietary inclusion of Plantain peel meal (%) Ingredients 0 25 50 75 100

Maize 26.0 19.5 13.0 6.5 - Plantain peel - 6.5 13.0 19.5 26.0 Soya bean 40.0 40.0 40.0 40.0 40.0 Fish meal 28.0 28.0 28.0 28.0 28.0 Oil 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 Vitamin premix 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 Methionine 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 Lysine 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 Salt 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 Bone meal 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

It could be observed also that all the diets containing plantain peels were lower in concentration of Nitrogen free extract, lipid and crude fibre (Non starch polysaccharide) which are main sources of dietary energy, relative to the control (maize) diet. This might have been a major significant factor responsible for higher feed intake by the fish fed the test diets (table 3). This is in agreement with the finding ( Vantsawa et al.,2008) that energy content of

feed/diets is inversely proportional to the feed intake, which was also observed when maize offal was fed to laying chicken. The overall low mortality recorded from this study showed that the physio-chemical parameters of the pond water was not adversely affected by the plantain peel diets and within the recommended range for catfish fingerlings (Boyd, 1979).

Table 3: Anti-nutritional substance in plantain peel meal

Anti-nutrients Concentration (mg/g)

Tannic acid 2.78 Phytate 35.02 Phytin phosphorus 9.87 Oxalate 1.04 Saponin 0.38 Alkaloids 0.24

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Table 4: Proximate composition of the treatment diets

Dietary treatment (%) Parameters 0 25 50 75 100

Moisture 7.94 7.80 7.80 9.59 8.54 Carbon 40.08 40.65 40.81 40.50 40.49 Fat 8.48 5.27 4.51 4.27 4.76 Carbohydrate 22.79 34.39 38.74 32.29 32.24 Ash 12.71 8.38 8.14 8.54 9.61 Fibre 8.00 3.51 5.00 4.81 4.76

Table 5: The performance of African catfish fed the treatment diets

Treatment diets (%) Parameters 0 25 50 75 100

Initial weight (g) 2.70 2.70 2.70 2.50 2.60 Final weight (g) 67.29 57.48 81.06 80.86 83.58 Weight gain (g) 64.59

b 54.78

b 78.36

a 78 .36

a 80.98

a

Total feed intake (g) 20.9b 23.3

b 37.3

a 41.8

a 43.3

a

Mean growth rate (g) 0.89 0.76 1.09 1.05 1.51 Specific growth rate (%/day) 1.21

a 1.12

a 1.37

a 1.4

a 1.31

a

Feed Conversion Ratio 0.32a 0.42

ab 0.47

ab 0.55

b 0.53

b

Protein efficiency ratio 7.89a 5.93

ab 5.47

b 4.71

b 6.74

ab

Mortality rate (%) 3.33 6.67 0.00 0.00 10.00

ab means with same superscript within rows are not significantly (p>0.05) different

CON CLUSION This study has shown that plantain peel diets can be tolerated by African catfish, hence, can replace the more expensive maize, thereby, reducing cost of production and curtail environmental filth and disposal problems associated with plantain peel in Nigeria. The best feed conversion ratio was reported in the control group (0%) with the value of 0.32 while the poorest value of 0.55 was obtained from fish fed 75% plantain peel diet. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) among the treatment groups. REFERENCE

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