EVALUATION OF LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA (LAM DE WIT) LEAFMEAL IN THE DIET OF HETEROBRANCHUS LONGIFILIS VALENCIENNES, 1840

📄 Project Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of Leucaena leafmeal in the diet of Heterobranchus longifilis fingerlings. L. leucocephala leaves were processed in three different ways to determine the best processing method that will reduce the level of anti-nutritional factors. The processing methods were sundrying of fresh leaves, soaking in water at room temperature and boiling in water (100 degrees C) for five minutes. The treatments were sundried for 24 hours (SD1), sundried for 48 hours (SD2), sundried for 72 hours (SD3), soaked in water for 24 hours (SW1), soaked in water for 48 hours (SW2), soaked in water for 72 hours (SW3) and boiled for 5 minutes (SB5). A feeding trial was then conducted for 36 weeks in which growth performance and nutrient utilization of Heterobranchus longifilis fed Leucaena leafmeal based diets were determined. Experimental diets of 42.5-45% crude protein were compounded with each diet containing 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% inclusion of Leucaena leafmeal while fishmeal based...