Comparative utilizations of fish waste meal with imported fishmeal by African catfish (Clarias gariepinus).

Abstract: Performance of dietary fish waste meal (FWM) and imported fishmeal (FM) were evaluated at 10 and 15 % inclusion levels in catfish diets towards the utilization of fish wastes as a cheap alternative animal protein source for sustainable aquaculture. Five isonitrogenous diets (40 % C.P) were formulated {FWM 10%, 15%, FM 10%, FM 15 % and control (non fishmeal base diet)} and were fed to juveniles of Clarias gariepinus of 18.20 ± 0.40g for 70 days in triplicates. Results of the study showed an overall good growth performances and survival rate of experimental fish. Dietary fishmeal contents influenced specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) statistically (p<0.05). All parameters assessed gave superior values in fish fed diets containing dietary fishmeal-based diets over the control diet which cost the least N185-50/kg. There was no significant difference between values of SGR, PER, FCR and protein intake between FWM and FM based-diets at the same level of inclusions. Dietary FWM at 15 % inclusion was better on the overall due to a superior economic conversion ratio it has over FM15 % with marginal differences. Key words:Dietary protein Clarias gariepinus Plant protein sources Animal protein sources Sustainable aquaculture INTRODUCTION production [13]. In the central fish market in Lafia, Nigeria, Fishmeal still constitutes a substantial part of feeds which include heads, tails, viscera, scales and whole fish