GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND NUTRIENT UTILIZATION OF Heterobranchus bidorsalis FED FERMENTED MILLET BRAN MEAL DIETS

Abstract

For aquaculture industry sustainability, apart from developing and improving of manpower; it is of immense importance to research and develop on various inputs of production, such as feed. Agro by-products such as Millet bran is a source of dietary energy in fish feed. Hence it was study in this work. This agro by-product was fermented at varying fermentation periods one day, four days and seven days. The fermented by-product was subjected to proximate analysis after which four days’ fermentation was selected for feed formulation. Four formulated isoproteic (40% crude protein) diets at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% inclusion levels to replace maize meal. The diets were fed to Heterobranchus bidorsalis for twelve (12) weeks. The result obtained in this study showed that fish fed 100% inclusion levels showed significance difference (p<0.05) compared to fish fed other diets and control. Fish fed 100% inclusion level diet had the highest mean weight gain, average daily growth rate, specific growth rate and relative growth rate compared to fish fed control diet. The nutrients utilization showed significant difference (p<0.05) in fish fed 100% inclusion levels compared to those fed control diet. The highest feed conversion ratio, protein intake, protein efficiency ratio, and protein rating were recorded in the fish fed 100% inclusion levels while the lowest were recorded in the fish fed control diet.