GROWTH PERFORMANCES AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF AFRICAN CATFISH, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) FINGERLINGS FED GRADED LEVELS OF TILAPIA, Coptodon zilli WASTE MEAL DIETS

Abstract

Feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of fish waste meal on growth performance and nutrient utilization, of Clarias gariepinus. 100 fingerlings of C. gariepinus of were stocked. Five (5) iso-nitrogenous diets containing 40% crude protein in which fish meal protein (70%) was replaced by fish waste meal protein (52%) at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% levels were formulated. The fingerlings were fed at 5% body weight per day for 56 days where each Diet had two replicates. Growth performance and nutrient utilization parameters revealed that fish fed 0% waste meal gave the best weight gain (11.61%) the least was obtained in those fed 75% (6.20) diet. Feed intake showed where highest value was obtained in fish fed diet with 0% inclusion level (18.34g) while the lowest was obtained in fish fed 100% fish waste meal as 5.08g. Net protein utilization fish fed diet containing 50% Fish waste meal had higher value (1129.17) among other diets. From the study, it is concluded that fish waste meal can replace as much as 50% of fish meal in the diet of African catfish, C. gariepinus