Effect of Partial Replacement of Fishmeal with Leucaena leucocephala Leaf Meal on the Growth Performance of Tilapia zilli Fingerlings

Aims: A study was carried out to determine the effect of replacing fishmeal with Leucaena leucoephala leaf meal in the diet of Tilapia zilli fingerlings.

Study Design: Three hundred (300) Tilapia zilli fingerlings (9.5±0.5 g/fish, mixed sex) fed with diet containing Leucaena leucoephala leaf meal for 10 weeks at 0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10.0% level of inclusion, representing the replacement of fish meal at 0%, 25% 75% and 100% respectively.

Place and Duration of Study: A study was carried out in the wet laboratory of Fisheries Technology department of Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu between July 2017 and October 2017.

Methodology: Tilapia sp. fingerlings were treated with five diets including a control experiment of which each treatment was replicated thrice, the total number of replicates was fifteen and the experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design.

Results: Statistical analyses revealed that there was no significant difference (P=05) in weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio.

Conclusion: L. leucocephala can be recommended in the diet of Tilapia zilli because of its economic in terms of cheapness and abundance especially in the tropical region and its nutritional values as a good source of plant protein.