Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences 2013, Vol.12 (1) : 53-64
This study was conducted to evaluate suitabi lity ofmor inga leaf meal (MLM) as an alternative source of
protein for Oreochromis niloticus. MLM was soaked overnight in tap water at 1:1 w/v to remove saponins
and other water soluble antinutritional factors (ANF). Soaking resulted in a decrease in MLM crude protein
content from 34.9 to 31.1g 100-1g but no effect on saponins which remained at 1.2 g 100-1g. Digestibility
trial showed that MLM had high digestibility for protein (89%) and energy (76.8%). Growth trial used five
isonitro genous (30g 100-1g), i s ol ip idic ( 10g 100-1g) and isoe nergetic (18 kJ g-1 ) diet s in which ML M
provided 15, 30, 45 and 60 g 100-1 of total dietary protein. This led to a significant decline (p < 0.(5) in feed
intake (0.71, 0.56, 0.50, 0.45 and 0.40g fish-1 day-1), specific growth rate (2.73,2.18, 1.44, 1.44 and 0.97
% day-1) and an increase in feed conversion ratio (2.26, 3.11, 4.97, 4.34 and 7.27) respectively. This was
largely due to the saponins and other antinutritional factors which affected palatability. Thus