IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

International Journal of Agriculture and Earth Science (IJAES )

E- ISSN 2489-0081
P- ISSN 2695-1894
VOL. 11 NO. 3 2025
DOI: 10.56201/ijaes.vol.11.no3.2025.pg183.191

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Growth performance and feed utilization of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed diets with different levels of orange fleshed Ipomea batatas peel

L E Igoche, KV Absalom, S O Musa, and L E Akpa

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Abstract

The current exorbitant prices of conventional energy feedstuffs for fish diet due to its global scarcity and fierce competition between human and animals calls for concerted efforts in finding alternative, cheap and sustainable aquaculture feed. This study was conducted for 16 weeks to assess the effect of the inclusion of orange fleshed sweet potato peels in the diets of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. The experimental set up consisted of 6 treatments (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100% inclusion) and 3 replicates each, making up 18 tanks. Each tank was stocked with 10 fish to determine the effect of dietary inclusion on both growth and feed utilization of fingerling. Fish were fed twice daily at 5% body weight, and water quality was monitored using standard procedures. Results showed significant reduction in growth performance (p<0.05) with increased in the percentage of orange fleshed Ipomoea batatas peel meal inclusion. The control diet had the greatest mean final weight (120.58 ± 0.07 g) and weight gain (117.91 ± 0.80 g), while the diet with 100% peel meal inclusion (D6) had the lowest growth parameters (final weight: 95.31 ± 2.40 g, weight gain: 92.25 ± 0.28 g). While growth and feed consumption were reduced, treatments did not differ significantly (p>0.05) with respect to protein efficiency ratio (PER) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Survival across all treatment groups was high (96.67%-100%), which attests to the safety of the diets. The results indicate that although the incorporation of orange fleshed Ipomoea batatas peel meal can lower growth performance, it is a cost-effective substitute for traditional feed materials, which presents a sustainable aquaculture solution, particularly where sweet potatoes are extensively grown. The reduction in growth could be due to the high carbohydrate content and the anti- nutritional factors in the peels.

keywords:

Orange fleshed Ipomea batatas peel, Clarias gariepinus, fingerlings, Growth, and

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