EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE ANIMAL PROTEIN SOURCES TO REPLACE FISHMEAL IN PRACTICAL DIETS FOR AFRICAN CATFISH (CLARIAS GARIEPINUS)

The Efficacy of replacing fish meal with fish waste meal, crayfish meal and gambusia fish meal on an ideal protein basis in diets for African catfish, Clarias gariepinus , were evaluated under production conditions in concrete ponds. African catfish averaging 325.21±3.99 were randomly distributed among twenty outdoor concrete ponds subdivided (partitioned) by netting to 20 rearing units representing the twenty treatments studied. Each unit was 4.0 m length, 2.5m width and 1.0 m depth (10 m3)freshwater at a stocking rate of 25 fish per rearing unit. Ten experimental diets isoprotein (37%) and isocaloric diets (19KJ /g) were formulated to contain three (3) animal source protein (Fish waste meal, Crayfish meal and Gambusia fish meal) at three (3) level of substitute of fishmeal (50, 75 and 100%) and control diet in the experimental design .After 16 weeks (112 days), feed conversion efficiency and protein efficiency ratio decreased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing dietary fish waste meal substitution for fishmeal. The growth parameters indicated that weight gain, specific growth rate decreased significantly with increase in crayfish meal. The fish diet containing gambusia fish meal (75%) and control diet had significantly (p<0.05) higher weight gain, specific growth rate compared to other treatments. Based on the observed results, either of the tested products can be used to reduce the fishmeal content, when fish waste meal was available, 50% fish waste meal serviced as assailable partial replacement for fishmeal, though with crayfish meal was available the replacement of 50% of the fishmeal in basal diet African catfish with crayfish meal. However, the 75% gambusia fish meal in the present study is a suitable complete substitute for fishmeal in practical diets for African catfish. When three source of animal protein were availability, the gambusia fish meal (75%) a suitable substitute for fishmeal in practical diets for African catfish (Clarias gariepinus).