Growth performance and nutrient utilization of post fingerlings Clarias gariepinus fed varied levels of biscuit waste

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of biscuit waste meal on the growth performance and utilization of Clarias gariepinus juveniles. A total of 300 juveniles of average weight 8.85g were randomly divided into five Treatments, each Treatment had three replicates. Twenty juveniles were distributed into each happa (0.7m3). The happa were suspended to ¾ of their volume using kuralon ropes carefully tied round the bamboo poles across the concrete tanks. Five diets containing 40% crude protein were formulated in which maize was replaced with biscuit waste meal at treatment; Diet 1 (TD1) 0%, 25% (TD2), 50% (TD3), 75% (TD4), 100% (TD5) levels. The fish were fed at 3% body weight per day for 10weeks. The results showed that biscuit waste was most suitable as an energy supplement when incorporated at 25% replacement (TD2) with maize. TD1 had the highest weight gain followed by TD2, TD3, TD4 and TD5 respectively. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the growth response in TD1 (0%), TD2 (25%) and TD3 (50%). It is therefore concluded that biscuit waste meal is a cheap source of non conventional energy source which can be used favorably to replace maize (25% inclusion level) as an energy source in the diets of C. gariepinus.

Keywords: Treatment, Biscuit waste, Net hapa, Juveniles, Crude protein