Growth performance, feed efficiency and carcass composition of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Picess: Clariidae) fingerlings fed diets composed of agricultural by-products

Abstract

Four experimental diets were formulated to contain different ratios of animal protein to plant protein of 1:12 (diet F1), 1:9 (diet F2), 1:6 (diet F3) and 1:2 (diet F4).Diets F1 and F2 contained crude protein level of 35% at gross energy of 17 kJ/g providing protein to energy ratios (P/E) of 21 23 mg CP/kJ while diets F3 and F4 contained crude protein of 40% at gross energy level of 19 kJ/g providing P/E of 23 mg CP/kJ. The diets were fed to quadruplicate groups of African catfish Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (5.37 ± 0.23 g) for 12 weeks. The group of fish receiving the experimental diet F4 attained the highest (P 0.05) were observed between the experimental groups. The highest (P < 0.05) body protein, lipid and energy content attained by the fish fed diet F4. These findings suggest that a diet containing a proportion of 1 : 2 animal protein to plant protein at protein level of 40%, gross energy of 19 kJ/g diet, and a protein to energy ratio of 23 mg CP/kJ could allow a complete replacement of commercial fish meal with agricultural by-products in diets of African catfish without negatively affecting its growth performance, feed utilization or carcass composition.