Nutrient Utilization and Growth of Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fed Dietary Levels of Cassava Leaf Meal

Fingerlings of catfish (Clarias aariepinus) of average weight 0.87 g were collected from ARAC, Port Harcourt and used to assess the responses of feeding dietary levels of cassava leaf meal on nutrient utilization and growth of the fish. 35% isonitrogeneous diets of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% dietary levels of cassava leaf meal were formulated. These were fed to the fingerlings randomly assigned to 4 treatments TCN (Control), TC sub( 1) (10% CLM), TC sub( 2) (20% CLM) and TC sub( 3) (30% CLM) respectively in 3 replicates of 13 fingerlings each, using 12 plastic aquaria of 250 x 150 cm dimension. The fish were fed at 5% body weight twice daily within the experimental period of 8 weeks. Mortality range was between 20 and 24%, the least observed on the TCN (control) while TC sub( 2) and TC sub( 3) were the highest. Daily feed intake and protein intake were not significantly (p>0.05) different. The control (TCN) had the highest body weight gain, followed by TC sub( 2), TC sub( 3) and then TC sub( 1). Specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio for the control (TCN) were significantly (p