Effect of Bambara Seed (Vigna subterranea) Meal on Growth Performance, Physiology and Histology of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing roasted Bambara bean with soybean in the catfish diet. One hundred and sixty-eight Clarias gariepinus juveniles (8.69±0.28 g) were allocated to four treatments in replicates. Experimental diets were formulated at 40% crude protein with three inclusion levels of Bambara meal diet BMD (15%, 30% and 45%), respectively, and a soybean control diet, fed twice daily at 3 % body weight for 8 weeks, in a completely randomized experiment. Growth indices of Mean Weight Gain (MWG), Specific Growth Rate (SGR), Feed Intake (FI), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and Percentage Weight Gain (PWG) were measured. Haematological parameters, digestive enzymes, intestinal morphometry and organ histology of liver, kidney and intestine were also investigated. Results showed that growth indices of Clarias gariepinus decreased with increased levels of BMD. The highest weight gain (83.73) was in the control diet and the least (65.66) in BMD45%, while SGR, FCR and PWG were not significantly different (p>0.05) in the experiment. Carcass protein and haematological parameters were highest at BMD45%, and serum biochemical parameters highest in control diet. Digestive enzymes acted best on BMD45%, while intestinal morphometry was highest in the control diet and significantly different from dietary treatment. Organ histology showed no observable lesions in the control treatment, but BMD15%; BMD45% kidney was affected by the diet, while the BMD30% showed liver degeneration and intestinal villi atrophy. Roasted BMD can best be included at 15% and up to 45% when WG, SGR, FCR and PWG are considered.