EFFECT OF SOURCES OF FISHMEAL ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GROWING CATFISH

Abstract

A study on the effects of three sources of fish meal on the performance of growing catfish was carried out. Maiduguri fishmeal. Imported fishmeal of 72% CP and fish crumbs obtained from the local market in Kaduna were used in this study. There were four dietary treatments based on the three sources of fishmeal in the diets and a foreign complete fish feed (coppens) serving as the control. Each diet was replicated three times. A total of 288 growing juveniles were randomly assigned to four treatments of 72 fish per treatment and 24 per replicate in a completely randomised design in an experiment that lasted eight weeks. The growth performance data include feed intake, body weight, feed conversion ratio and feed cost per kg gain were obtained. Data collected was subjected to one-way ANOVA where significant means were separated using Duncan multiple range test. The result showed that coppens had significantly (p<0.05) higher final body weight and weight gain while fish crumb recorded the least. Feed intake was not significantly (p>0.05) influenced by the sources of fishmeal. Feed conversion ratio was better for coppens (1.10) followed by Maiduguri fishmeal (1.43), Imported fishmeal (3.93) while fish crumb did poorly (16.82). However, feed cost per kg gain of Maiduguri fish was significantly lower(p<0.05) compared to all the other treatments. Maiduguri fishmeal resulted in 49% savings in feed cost per kg gain. In conclusion, Maiduguri fishmeal was the best source of fish meal for the manufacture of sinking pellets for local catfish feeding.