Growth Response and Haematological Indices of Hybrid Catfish Fingerlings Fed Varying Inclusion Levels of Fermented Sword Bean (Canavalia Gladiata) Seed Meal in a Concrete Tank

Abstract

Intensive fish production involves the input of supplementary and complete feeds which often represent a large part of production costs (Chen and Tsai, 1994). Fish require proteins, fats, carbohydrates in addition to vitamins and minerals in appropriate proportions to enhance fast growth, optimum health and harvest (Falaye, 1988; Ufodike et al., 2011). Protein assumes a very important place in bodybuilding and replenishing (Davies et al., 1997), and therefore, must be considered as a critical or limiting nutrient. The most common protein source used in aqua feed is the fishmeal and largely derived from small oily fish caught by so-called “industrial fisheries”. Due to the everincreasing demand for fish meal and fish oil for farmed fish and crustaceans, there’s growing concern on over-exploitation of capture fishery derived fish products for aquaculture. This contributes to depletion of certain types of fisheries with negative concomitant effects on other wild fish stock hence unsustainable for aquaculture (Naylor et al., 2000).