PERFORMANCE OF JUVENILE OREOCHROMIS-NILOTICUS (L) REARED ON DIETS CONTAINING COWPEA, VIGNA-CATIANG, AND BLACK GRAM, PHASEOLUS-MUNGO, SEEDS

Sixteen isocaloric diets containing one of three protein levels (20, 2 5 and 30%) were prepared by partially or totally replacing fish meal w ith seeds of the legume Vigna catiang (cowpea) and Phaseolus mungo (bl ack gram). Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings (mean weight of 2.60 +/- 0.52 g) were fed the test diets twice daily to satiation over a 70-day period. Poor growth rates were noted when fish meal was completely re placed by each of the plant protein sources. Weight pin generally decl ined as the dietary level of legume seeds increased. Poor feed convers ion was observed for fish fed diets with higher plant materials at 20% dietary protein. PER tended to increase with decreasing dietary prote in level. Carcass lipid of fish fed 20% protein diets was increased si gnificantly except for one group. It was noted that each of the tested legume seeds could replace about 33% of the fish meal in the test die ts without any adverse effect on growth rate.