Introduction
Insects are good sources of nutrients and are cheap sources of animal proteins. African palm weevil larvae, Rhychophorus phoenicis (F) have high protein of about 66.3% (Elemo et al, 2011) which compares well with 65% protein in fish meal. This study investigated the effects of replacement of fish meal with full-fat African palm weevil larvae meal in the diets of African catfish for cost effective food fish production.
Materials and methods
Five isonitrogenous diets were prepared to contain 0, 25, 50, 75, 100% of the palm weevil larvae meal (PW) in replacement for fish meal in making diets 1 -5. The diets were fed to African catfish (5.60 g) for 70 days in indoor glass tanks. Standard procedures were used in data collection and analyses.
Results
Assessment of the mean weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio indicated that PW can replace up to 100% of fish meal in the diet of the fish (Table 1). Replacement at 100% PW significantly increased the weight gain and specific growth in comparison with fish fed 100% fish meal. Similarly, dietary PW marginally improved Mg, Ca, P, Mn and Zn deposition in the fish and significantly reduced the liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the fish fed 100% PW meal (Table 1).
Conclusion
African palm weevil larvae meal can replace 100% of fish meal in the diets of African catfish. Replacement of fish meal with PW also significantly reduced the liver enzymes ALT and AST levels.