Chemical Composition and Feed Floatation of Adansonia digitata Meal Diet

An increase in the competitive use of soybean meal necessitates a need for another alternative plant protein. Based on this, Adansonia digitata “(Baobab) leaf meal was investigated for its phytochemicals, proximate compositions, floatation efficiency, and its effect on Clarias gariepinus, growth, feed utilization, hematological profile and cost-benefit for 84 days. 40% crude protein diets were formulated, and soybean meal was substituted for Baobab leaf meal at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%, which were fed to 150 Clarias gariepinus fingerlings of average weight (0.71±0.05) and length (4.96±0.18) which were stocked at 10 fingerlings per tank. The results showed that diet T5 had the best floatation efficiency indices compared to other diets. Diet T5 had the highest mean weight gain (10.82±1.36g/fish), which is significantly different (p< 0.05) from the T1, T2, T3 and T4. There were significant differences (p< 0.05) in feed utilization between the groups and those fed 40% baobab meal. The cost of feeding the fish ranged from N293.84 to N397.31, which was reduced with an increase in the inclusions of Adansonia digitata leaf meal diets. As the inclusion level increases, the Profit index net profit benefit-cost ratio increases while the incidence of cost decreases. All these were significantly different (p≤0.05). Based on the results from this study, the Baobab leaf meal could be used to substitute for plant protein in the diet of Clarias gariepinus to 40% inclusion levels for aquaculture sustainability.