EFFECTS OF STORAGE DURATION ON PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF NON-CONVENTIONAL FISH FEED INGREDIENTS AND FARM-MADE FEED

This study investigated effects of storage duration on proximate composition of wheat pollard, maize bran, blood meal, sunflower and cotton seed cakes and farm-made fish feed from these foodstuffs. Whole dry grain of wheat and maize, and seeds of sunflower and cotton were obtained during the harvest season. The outer layer of wheat and maize was removed to obtain wheat pollard and maize bran respectively. Oil was extracted from sunflower and cotton seeds to derive sunflower and cotton seed cake respectively. Blood meal was prepared by cooking and sun-drying fresh cow blood. The foodstuffs and feed were packed in polythene sacks, tied-up placed in a wooden crib and stored at room temperature in a dry well-ventilated feed store. Fish feed was made from the feed ingredients before they were stored. The feed ingredients were stored immediately after processing them (treatment 1 – T0), and for either two (treatment 2 – T1) or four months (treatment 3 – T2). The feed was also stored in a similar set-up as the feed ingredients (treatment 1 - F0, treatment 2 - F1 or treatment 3 - F2). Proximate composition (crude protein, lipid, fiber, ash, dry matter, moisture) of each foodstuff or feed in each treatment was assessed using triplicate samples. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, followed by either Tukey`s or Welch’s test to determine significant differences. Data from blood meal was analyzed using a t-test (treatment T0 and T1). There was a trend towards reduction of crude protein, lipid, fiber, ash and dry matter of the foodstuffs by treatment T1 with significant decreases mainly obtained with treatment T2. Treatment F1 did not affect crude protein, lipid, fiber and ash of the feed but treatment F2 reduced crude protein and lipid contents while ash and fiber levels were increased. The results indicated that under the handling and storage conditions used in this study, farm-made feed, wheat pollard, maize bran, sunflower and cotton seed cakes, and blood meal need to be used within 2 months of storage in order to maintain their nutritional quality.