PROXIMATE AND GROSS ENERGY COMPOSITION OF FORMULATED AFRICAN CATFISH FINGERLINGS FEED WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CO – MIXED OF BETAINE/Β – GLUCAN AS FEED ADDITIVE

Résumé

The proximate and gross energy composition of formulated African catfish fingerlings feed with different levels of co – mixed of betaine/β - glucan as feed additive was evaluated. Five (5) isonitrogenous and isocaloric feed was formulated, each feed with crude protein (CP) content at 40% CP, where co – mixed of betaine/β – glucan additive was incorporated as additives at 0.0g/100g, (BBG0 i.e. control), 0.325g/100g (BBG1), 0.75g/100g (BBG2), 1.125g/100g (BBG3) and 1.50g/100g (BBG4). Feed was subjected to proximate analysis and gross energy estimation. Proximate analysis indicated that the formulation of African catfish fingerlings feed with co – mixed of betaine/β – glucan as additives at different levels had no significant (p>0.05) effects on the values of crude protein, crude lipid, crude fibre, moisture, ash and nitrogen – free extract of the feed, while at 0.75g/100g and 1.125g/100g feed inclusion levels it had a significant (p<0.05) effects by lowering the gross energy value of the feed. The co – mixed of betaine/β - glucan can be use as feed additive in the formulation of African catfish fingerlings feed in order to improve growth and stress resistance.