Studies on the use of pigeon peas (cajanuscajan) as a protein supplement for Nile Tilapia (OreochromisNiloticus)

For decades, fishmeal has been commonly used in diets formulation for farmed fishes but this protein source has proved to be expensive to fish farmers. This calls for a rigorous search for possible alternative or complementary sources. Four experiments were carried out to evaluate the nutritive potential, problems and limitations of using pigeon peas, as a protein supplement for tilapia. Results from experiment one revealed that the processing methods had no significant (P>0.05) influence on the proximate and some minerals composition of pigeon peas. Results from experiment two showed that the conventional processing methods had no significant (P>0.05) improvement on both, essential and non-essential amino acids. Results from experiment three showed no significant (P>0.05) differences in fish growth among treatments when differently processed pigeon peas were offered as a sole source of dietary protein. Results from experiment four also showed lack of significant (P>0.05) beneficial effects of processing and substitution levels on fish survival rates and growth performance. Results from the present study have shown limited prospects and nutritional limitations to be overcome, before pigeon peas can be used as a sole or partial source of dietary protein for Nile tilapia. Nevertheless, possible approaches towards improving nutritional value of peas should probably include strict observation of processing conditions, mixing of pigeon peas with other legume proteins, and offered at levels probably £ 40%. Also consider breeding for high protein content. Therefore it is concluded that use of fishmeal in the diet formulations for tilapia at the expense of cheap plant protein sources cannot be ruled out at present time.