AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGY JOURNAL OF NORTH AMERICA
ISSN Print: 2151-7517, ISSN Online: 2151-7525, doi:10.5251/abjna.2013.4.2.155.159
© 2013, ScienceHuβ, http://www.scihub.org/ABJNA
Plantain peels as dietary supplement in practical diets for African catfish
(Clarias gariepinus burchell 1822 ) fingerlings
*Agbabiaka, L.A1, Okorie. K.C2 and Ezeafulukwe .C.F3
1
. Department of Fisheries Technology, Federal Polytechnic ,Nekede - Owerri, Nigeria
. Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Imo state University- Owerri, Nigeria
3
. Department of Fisheries/Marine Technology, Imo state Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Nigeria
*[email protected]
2
ABSTRACT
Experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth response of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
fed varying levels of plantain peel based diets. 150 Clarias gariepinus fingerlings with mean body
weight 2.6±0.1g were assigned to five diets (CP = 40%) in which plantain peel meal replaced
maize at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% respectively in a completely randomized design. The trial fish
were fed at 5% body weight daily for a period of 72 days. Data collected showed that body weight
gain increased with increase plantain peel meal in the diet (p<0.05). Similar observation was
recorded for feed intake but there was no significant (p>0.05) difference in feed conversion ratio
among the treatments. All the fish fed the test ingredient performed better than the control group;
hence, plantain peel meal could be recommended as a dietary supplement in the diets of African
catfish.
Key words: Plantain peel, Clarias gariepinus, replacement, growth performance, diets.
INTRODUCTION
Fish is generally accepted as protein source in diets
of
average
Nigerians
(Agbabiaka,
2010a).
Nutritionally, fish is about the cheapest and direct
source of protein and micro nutrients for several
millions of Africans (Bene and Heck, 2005). Feed
accounts for minimum of 60% of the total cost of fish
production in Africa (Jamu and Ayinla, 2003) and a
major factor that determines the viability and
profitability of fish farming enterprise. Aquaculture
development in sub-Sahara Africa including Nigeria
has been reported to be insignificant compared to the
rest of Europe and Asia (Changadeya et
al.,2003)perhaps due to non availability of quality
feed at economic prices .
In view of this, many studies have been conducted on
the use of unorthodox feedstuffs such as root and
tubers, and their by-products which can probably
reduce feed cost and ultimately the production cost in
fish farming in particular and monogastric animal
agriculture in general. Plantain (Musa paradisiaca)
also known as Ogede (Hausa), Agbagba (Yoruba)
and Ogadejoku (Igbo) is a tropical plant with more
than 50% produced in Africa (Akyeampong, 1999).
Nigeria is one of the largest plantain producing
countries in the world; available data has show that
Nigeria produced 2.103 million tons of plantain,
harvested from 389,000ha in the year 2004 (FAO,
2005).
Akinyele and Agboro (2007) reported over 2,000
small scale plantain chips processing companies in
Lagos metropolis alone that discards the peels after
utilizing the starchy fruit, hence, constituting an
environmental and disposal problems . Locally,
plantain peels are used for “local” soap production.
The leaves are also used for wrapping, packaging
and often used as roofing material in the villages.
Recently, plantain peels have been used as
composite feedstuff for growing snails (Omole et
al.,2004) but there is paucity of information on its
potential as feedstuff for African catfish diets.
This study is therefore designed to investigate the
effect of replacing maize with plantain peels as
energy supplement in diets of Clarias gariepinus
fingerlings.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experimental site and sample preparation: The
experiment was conducted at the Department of
Fisheries Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede,
Owerri. The sample (plantain peels) were collected
from plantain processors at “new market” Owerri.
They were sun-dried for two weeks, grind and sieved
Agric. Biol. J. N. Am., 2013, 4(2): 155-159
to produce plantain peel meal. Sample of the meal
was analysed for proximate composition and
phytochemistry (tables 1 and 3)
reported for tigernut meal and maize (Aduku, 1993 ;
Oladele and Aina, 2007; Agbabiaka et al.,2012).
However, the crude protein content of the diets
increased with increased dietary inclusion of plantain
peel meal (table 4). This is attributed to superior
crude protein content of the test ingredient used over
maize (table 1).
Feed formulation: The meale produced (plantain
peels) was mixed with other feeding ingredients to
formulate five-isonitrogeneous diet at 40% crude
protein in which plantain peel meal was used to
replace maize at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%
respectively, while the control diet (0%) contained no
plantain peel meal.
Table 1: Proximate composition of the test
ingredient (plantain peel meal)
Nutrients
Moisture
Crude protein
Fat
Carbohydrate
Ash
Fibre
The diets produced were passed through a pelleting
machine of die 2mm to produce pellets. Thereafter,
the pelleted feeds were sun dried to crispy for four (4)
days to prevent the growth of moulds and were
packed in waterproof bags and labelled accordingly
before storage at room temperature.
Experimental fish and design: One hundred and
fifty African catfish fingerlings with average 2.6g body
weight were purchased from a commercial hatchery
in Owerri. They were acclimated for seven (7) days
and fed with control diet (0%). Subsequently, they
were randomly assigned to the five treatment diet at
30 fish per treatment in hapa measuring 1x1x1m
suspended in outdoor concrete tank measuring
5x4x1.2m. Each treatment is replicated trice in a
completely randomized design having ten fish per
replicate.
Concentration (%)
8.57
13.73
9.46
51.86
10.30
6.00
The weight gain and specific growth rate of the fish
fed plantain peel based diets were superior to the
control group (p<0.05) except at 25% dietary
inclusion which was not significantly (p>0.05)
different from group of fish fed the control diet. It
should be noted that culture fish in concrete ponds
and other artificial enclosures relies solely on
nutrients from the feed for growth with little or no
contribution from natural food, hence, the general
increase in weights of the trial fish was an indication
that all the diets met the nutrient requirement for
growth in African catfish particularly the crude protein
(CP = 40%) and perhaps the protein-energy ratio
(Fagbenro and Arowosoge ,1991 ; Agbabiaka
2010b).
They were fed the experimental diet for period of 12
weeks at the rate of 5% body weight per day, shared
between morning (7 – 8 am) and evening (5 – 6 pm).
Data collection and statistical analysis: The
experimental fish (fingerlings) in each hapa were
weighed at the beginning of the experiment and forth
nightly, using a digital weighing balance and returned
into the respective hapas thereafter, their feed intake
were adjusted according to the new body weight
gained forth nightly.
All the plantain peel diets supported growth more
than control control perhaps due to the medium
where fish lives which might have encouraged
leaching of anti-nutrients especially the polyphenols.
The improve weight gain in plantain peel treatments
can also be due to the fibre content of the diets being
lower than that of the control (table 4). Though, all the
dietary treatments have fibre concentrations within
the recommended range of 8% for catfish
(Davis,1985).
Data on feed intake, weight gained and feed
conversion ratio for the five groups were collected
and subjected to analysis of variance, where
significant difference was detected, means were
separated using multiple range tests as outlined by
Obi (1990).
Bichi and Ahmad (2010) also reported better
utilization of cassava leaves by Nile Tilapia (O.
niloticus). Similar observation was recorded when
cassava peel and leaves, yam peel meal were fed to
Rabbits (Agunbiade et al.,1999 ; Ayoola and
Akinbami 2011) respectively .This is in agreement
with finding of Omole et al. (2004) when snails were
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The crude protein content of the plantain peel
(13.73%) is higher than the values of (7.15 – 9.70%)
156
Agric. Biol. J. N. Am., 2013, 4(2): 155-159
vomerine teeth, characteristics of Clariid catfishes
which exposes the cell wall surface area to digestion.
The feed intake of the trial fish is directly proportional
to the dietary level of the plantain peels. It has been
reported that feed intake of the monogastrics
including fishes is a function of the dietary energy,
that is, animals will continue to eat until the energy
requirement is met (Esonu,2000).
fed composite meal containing peels of mango,
plantain, cocoyam and pawpaw.
Unlike salmonids, significant amount of amylase and
cellulase have been reported in catfish such as
Clarias species ( Olatunde et al.,1988 ; Fagbenro,
1990 ; Fagbenro et al., 2000) which perhaps was
responsible for the breakdown of cell wall material in
plantain peels couple with the grinding effects of the
Table 2: Gross composition of experimental diets fed to African catfish fingerlings
Ingredients
Maize
Plantain peel
Soya bean
Fish meal
Oil
Vitamin premix
Methionine
Lysine
Salt
Bone meal
Total
0
26.0
40.0
28.0
2.0
0.25
0.50
0.50
0.25
2.0
100.0
Dietary inclusion of Plantain peel meal (%)
25
50
75
19.5
13.0
6.5
6.5
13.0
19.5
40.0
40.0
40.0
28.0
28.0
28.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.50
0.25
0.25
0.25
2.0
2.0
2.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
It could be observed also that all the diets containing
plantain peels were lower in concentration of
Nitrogen free extract, lipid and crude fibre (Non
starch polysaccharide) which are main sources of
dietary energy, relative to the control (maize) diet.
This might have been a major significant factor
responsible for higher feed intake by the fish fed the
test diets (table 3). This is in agreement with the
finding ( Vantsawa et al.,2008) that energy content of
Table 3:
feed/diets is inversely proportional to the feed intake,
which was also observed when maize offal was fed to
laying chicken. The overall low mortality recorded
from this study showed that the physio-chemical
parameters of the pond water was not adversely
affected by the plantain peel diets and within the
recommended range for catfish fingerlings (Boyd,
1979).
Anti-nutritional substance in plantain peel meal
Anti-nutrients
Tannic acid
Phytate
Phytin phosphorus
Oxalate
Saponin
Alkaloids
100
26.0
40.0
28.0
2.0
0.25
0.50
0.50
0.25
2.0
100.0
Concentration (mg/g)
2.78
35.02
9.87
1.04
0.38
0.24
157
Agric. Biol. J. N. Am., 2013, 4(2): 155-159
Table 4: Proximate composition of the treatment diets
Parameters
Moisture
Carbon
Fat
Carbohydrate
Ash
Fibre
0
7.94
40.08
8.48
22.79
12.71
8.00
Dietary treatment (%)
25
50
7.80
7.80
40.65
40.81
5.27
4.51
34.39
38.74
8.38
8.14
3.51
5.00
75
9.59
40.50
4.27
32.29
8.54
4.81
100
8.54
40.49
4.76
32.24
9.61
4.76
Table 5: The performance of African catfish fed the treatment diets
Treatment diets (%)
Parameters
0
25
50
75
Initial weight (g)
2.70
2.70
2.70
2.50
Final weight (g)
67.29
57.48
81.06
80.86
b
b
a
a
a
Weight gain (g)
64.59
54.78
78.36
78 .36 80.98
b
b
a
a
Total feed intake (g)
20.9
23.3
37.3
41.8
Mean growth rate (g)
0.89
0.76
1.09
1.05
a
a
a
a
Specific growth rate (%/day)
1.21
1.12
1.37
1.4
a
ab
ab
b
Feed Conversion Ratio
0.32
0.42
0.47
0.55
a
ab
b
b
Protein efficiency ratio
7.89
5.93
5.47
4.71
Mortality rate (%)
3.33
6.67
0.00
0.00
ab
means with same superscript within rows are not significantly (p>0.05) different
100
2.60
83.58
a
43.3
1.51
a
1.31
b
0.53
ab
6.74
10.00
Agbabiaka, L.A.; Madubuiko, C.U. and Anyanwu, C.N.
(2012): Replacement value of tigernut meal with maize
in catfish (Clarias gariepinus) diets. Journals of
Science Research Reporter 2(2): 160-164
CON CLUSION
This study has shown that plantain peel diets can be
tolerated by African catfish, hence, can replace the
more expensive maize, thereby, reducing cost of
production and curtail environmental filth and
disposal problems associated with plantain peel in
Nigeria. The best feed conversion ratio was reported
in the control group (0%) with the value of 0.32 while
the poorest value of 0.55 was obtained from fish fed
75% plantain peel diet. There was no significant
difference (p>0.05) among the treatment groups.
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Akinyele, B.J. and Agboro, O. (2007): Increasing the
nutritional value of plantain wastes by the activities of
fungi using solid state fermentation techniques.
Research Journal of Microbiology. 2:117 – 124
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