Abstract

Because of its high antinutritional factors, jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) is one of the legumes that are underutilized in the production of animal feed. The nutritional value of hydrothermally processed C. ensiformis seeds in the diet of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus was the subject of this study. Hydrothermally, five batches of C. ensiformis seeds were hydrothermally processed for 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 minutes, respectively, in 100°C boiling water. The protein and fat content of C. ensiformis were unaffected by hydrothermal processing in terms of the seed's approximate composition. However, significant changes were made to all essential amino acids. Even after 40 minutes of hydrothermal processing, there was no discernible reduction in the antinutritional factor canavanine. Five isonitrogenous diets (35% CP) formulated with the processed C. ensiformis seed at an inclusion level of 27% were labeled in triplicate according to fifty fingerlings of C. gariepinus weighing 1.07 0.01 g. At hydrothermal treatments of 30 and 40 minutes, the protein efficiency ratio (0.078), specific growth rate (2.26 g/day), body weight gain (2.73 g), and feed conversion efficiency (34.11 %) were all at their highest levels. C. ensiformis could be hydrothermally processed for up to 40 minutes in commercial and on-farm production of catfish diet at a 27% inclusion rate.

Keywords: ack bean; Unconventional feed; Hydrothermal; Anti- nutritional factor; African catfish