Determination of Optimum Dietary Crude Protein Requirement for Maximum Growth of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
Determination of Optimum Dietary Crude Protein Requirement for Maximum Growth of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
Muhammad Ramzan Ali1*, Hasina Basharat2, Aziz Ahmed1, Mubeen Fakhar1 and Aleem Khan1
ABSTRACT
African catfish was introduced in Pakistan due to its high growth and economic importance. The feeding experiment was performed to find out the optimum level of protein in the diet of African catfish formulated from low cost locally available feed ingredients. This feeding trial was performed on African catfish in twelve fiber glass circular tanks (2000 L water capacity) for period of 12 weeks at the stocking rate of 20 fish/ tank. The experimental design was CRD with 4 treatments having 3 replicates. Four experimental diets containing different levels of crude protein (CP: 40%, 35%, 30% and 25%) levels were prepared. The final weight of fish and weight gain was improved by increasing proteins levels in feed. The fish fed with the feed containing 25% CP level showed minimum weight gain (127.69 g), and followed by feed of 30% CP level (142.4 g), 35 % CP level (168.3 g) and 40 % CP level (173.4 g); although growth parameters of fish feed of 35 and 40% CP level did not differ significantly. The results of cost benefit analysis pointed out that 35% protein level is optimum for African catfish as increasing protein levels beyond 35% increases the cost of feed without affecting the growth rate in a significant way thus reducing the net profitability. It was concluded that dietary protein requirement of African catfish ranged between 35-40% CP. For the commercial production of African catfish 35% crude protein level in the feed was optimum.
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