Dry Feeds Produced Based on Local Available Feedstuffs for African Catfish Clarias Gariepinus Juveniles Rearing in Earthen Ponds

Abstract

The aim of this study was to produce a suitable low-cost feeds for African catfish Clarias gariepinus rearing in Côte d'Ivoire fish farms. Three isoproteic (35% protein level) dry feeds were formulated and produced with the local available feedstuffs of Sudano Guinean 1 (SG1), Sudano Guinean 2 (SG2) and Guinean (G) Côte d’Ivoire agro ecological areas. Then, Clarias gariepinus juveniles initial mean weight 12.98±1.23 g were fed with these three feeds at 5% of the total biomass two times (9:00 am and 05:00 pm) per day during 120 days. Each feed was hand distributed in the triplicate fish groups stocked in earthen ponds at 3 fish/m2. At the end of the trial, growth data showed significant higher growth with fish fed feeds G and SG2 than those of fish fed feed SG1. The weight gains of fish varied between 459.95 ± 101.31 (SG1) and 664.74±67.45 (G) g with the daily weight gain oscillated between 3.83±0.84 (SG1) and 5.54±0.56 (G) g/day. The best feed efficiency values were recorded with fish fed feeds G and SG2. Nutritional compositions recorded from the body of fish fed feed G (21.46±0.01 %) showed highest protein values when the body of fish fed with feed SG1 presented the highest moisture (77.92±0.17 %) and crude lipid (1.77±0.14 %) contents. Results showed that the three feeds produced were suitable for a good growth of Clarias gariepinus juveniles rearing in earthen ponds, however, the best growth and feeds efficiency results were recorded with feeds G and SG2.