Journal Article

A Study of Growth Performance of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fingerlings Fed with Groundnut and Soybean Blend Meals

Abstract

Study of growth performance of African catfish fingerlings fed with groundnut and soybean meal blends as alternative protein source was carried out for ninety (90) days. Five isonitrogenous diets that contained (0%: 100%), (25% : 75%), (50% : 50%),( 75% : 25%) and (100% : 0%) inclusions levels of blended groundnut meal (GNM) and soybean meal (SBM) were formulated and designated as D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5. Coppens and fishmeal (100% protein) served as positive and negative controls. The nutritional compositions of these diets were compared with both controls. Diet D2 with highest standard and total lengths of fishes among diets differ significantly (p<0.05) with Coppens but not with fishmeal. The result indicates that the best diet as alternate protein source was D2 which gave the best BWG (86.11±5.80g), SGR (0.63±0.13), Protein Efficiency Ratio PER (3.12±0.40), lowest FCR (0.88±22) when compared with D1 (100%: 0%) and diet D3 (50%: 50%), D4 (25% : 75%) and D5(0% : 100%).The lowest growth and feed utilization parameters were observed in D3 (50% : 50%),respectively. There were high survival rates among diets with diet D2 being highest differ significantly (p<0.05) with diets D3, diet D5, Coppens and fishmeal. the monitored water quality parameters fell within the acceptable range of standard values for successful fish production. It is therefore recommended that D2 (25% : 75%) inclusion level of groundnut and soybean blends should be used as alternative diet of C. gariepinus fish feeds for optimal production.

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