Effects of water hyacinth leaf meal feed on growth and body composition of African catfish, Heterobranchus longifilis, (Valenciennes, 1840)
Athanase Kraidy OTCHOUMOU, Laurent Yao ALLA, Clementine Amenan KOUAKOU

Abstract
A 8-week feeding trial was carried out to determine the effect of increasing dietary hyacinth leaf meal levels on African catfish juvenile growth and nutrient utilization. Four is nitrogenous diets were formulated to contain 10% to 40% hyacinth leaf meal. Growth performance, feed and nutrient utilization efficiency and body composition parameters of Heterobranchus longifilis fed diet containing water hyacinth were low than those recorded for Control diet. Growth performance and nutrient utilization efficiency of African catfish responded in a positive manner to hyacinth leaf meal added up to 30%. No further improvement in growth was observed with 40% of hyacinth leaf meal in the diet. Contrary to whole-body protein and energy content there was a significant difference (P<0.05) for ash, moisture and lipid contents. The best growth rate and nutrient utilization were observed with the inclusion of 30% hyacinth leaf meal in the diets for African catfish.

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