Dietary Inclusion Levels of White Mulberry (Morus Alba) Leaf Meal Effects on Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization of Clarias Gariepinus Fingerlings

Abstract

African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, is among the most economically important freshwater fish species in Nigerian aquaculture. The increasing need for natural and cost-effective feed additives has prompted research into plant-based alternatives that can improve growth and feed utilization in cultured fish. This study evaluated the effects of dietary inclusion levels of Morus alba leaf meal on the growth performance and nutrient utilization of C. gariepinus fingerlings over a 56-day feeding trial. Five experimental diets were formulated to contain 40% crude protein with M. alba leaf meal included at 0.0 (Ma1), 0.5 (Ma2), 1.0 (Ma3), 1.5 (Ma4), and 2.0 (Ma5) g/100 g. A total of 225 fingerlings (mean initial weight: 3.00 ± 0.20 g) were randomly assigned to 15 glass tanks in a completely randomized design with three replicates per treatment. The proximate composition of M. alba leaf meal showed crude protein of 16.46%, moisture of 8.24%, ash of 12.12%, crude fibre of 5.30%, lipid of 3.47%, and nitrogen-free extract of 54.41%. Water quality parameters remained within acceptable ranges throughout the trial and did not differ significantly among treatments (p > 0.05). Fish fed Ma4 (1.5 g/100 g) recorded the highest weight gain (25.19 ± 2.53 g), specific growth rate (4.05 ± 0.14%/day), feed efficiency ratio (0.76 ± 0.04), and the best feed conversion ratio (1.32 ± 0.03). Growth performance declined in fish fed Ma5 (2.0 g/100 g), suggesting reduced efficacy at higher inclusion levels. Polynomial regression confirmed an optimum dietary inclusion level of approximately 1.6 g/100 g. It was concluded that dietary inclusion of M. alba leaf meal at 1.5 g/100 g optimally improved the growth performance and nutrient utilization of C. gariepinus fingerlings.