Replacement of Fishmeal Using Poultry Offal Meal in Practical Feeds for Fry of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Abstract

A 70-day feeding trial was conducted to test the effect of partial replacement of fishmeal by poultry offal in the diet for fry of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Four isonitrogenous rations containing replacement of 0 (control), 30%, 60%, or 90% fishmeal by poultry offal were fed to three replicate groups of C. gariepinus fingerlings (0.74 g). Growth performance and nutrient utilization of the fish were evaluated based on weight gain, protein intake, protein efficiency ratio, specific growth ratio, gross efficiency of food conversion, and carcass analysis. The average weight gains of fingerlings fed the control (2.43 g) and 30% replacement diet (2.31 g) were higher than in fish fed the 60% (2.09 g) and 90% (2.0 g) replacement diets. The feed conversion ratio (1.48-1.62) was lowest in fish fed the control diet and highest in fish fed the 90% replacement diet. The specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, and apparent net protein utilization significantly decreased (p<0.05) as the level of dietary poultry offal increased. It was concluded that replacement of up to 30% fishmeal by chicken offal meal enhances growth performance of C. gariepinus fry.