EFFECT OF ALFALFA (MEDICAGO SATIVA) LEAF MEAL ON THE GROWTH OF OREOCHROMIS MOSSAMBICUS FINGERLINGS.

The effect of Alfalfa leaf meal supplemented diet was evaluated on the growth of Oreochromis mossambicus fingerlings. Five levels of experimental diet T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅ containing alfalfa leaf meal at the rate of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% and control diet (T₀ ) were fed for 60 days. The experimental fishes were fed at a rate of 4 per cent of body weight. The experimental results show significantly different (P<0.05) between the treatment and control. The highest weight gain (28.43±0.66 g), percent weight gain (163.74±3.91%), net gain in length (1.418±0.008cm), specific growth rate (1.62±0.03%) and gross conversion efficiency (GCE) (0.432±0.007) were observed in treatment T₄ and the lowest value was recorded in T₀ control. The treatment T₄ showed higher food utilization and low food conversion ratio (FCR), i.e. 2.909±0.047, compare to other treatments. These findings indicated that alfalfa leaf meal at the rate of 20 per cent in the fish diet has a beneficial impact on the growth of fingerlings of Oreochromis mossambicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]