Use of watermelon seed meal as a replacer of soybean meal in African catfish diets: effect on growth, body composition, haematology, and profit margin

Abstract

The effects of replacing soybean meal with watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) seed meal (CLM) on growth, body composition, haematology and profit margin in catfish (Clarias gariepinus) breeding was evaluated. Juvenile catfish (n = 150) were acclimatised for a week, weighed and allotted into five dietary treatments; D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5 containing 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 % replacement of soybean meal with watermelon seed meal, respectively. The diets were isonitrogenous and isolipidic. Each treatment was conducted in triplicate with ten fish per replicate. The results from the study indicate that there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in growth, carcass composition, and nutrient utilization. However, a significant variation (p < 0.05) existed in the haematological parameters among the fish fed the different dietary treatments. The incidence of cost showed that the production of fish was cheaper when CLM was used as a replacement for soybean meal. The higher carcass yield and profit per kg of fish fed CLM justifies the use of CLM as a substitute for soybean meal in the diet of African catfish.