Performance of Hybrid Clariid Catfish Fingerlings (Clarias gariepinus female X Heterobranchus bidorsalis male ) Fed Poultry Layer Waste Diets in Aquaria

摘要

The performance of poultry layer waste (PLW) meal as a dietry protein inclusion for hybrid clariid catfish (Clarias gariepinus female X Heterobranchus bidorsalis male ) fingerlings (hetero-clarias), cultivated in glass tanks, was evaluated. Four isonitrogenous diets (35% crude protein) were fed to unsexed hetero-clarias fingerlings for 90 days. The inclusion levels of the PLW meal were at 0%, 10%, 20% and 30%. Growth performance and nutrient utilization of the fish were based on percentage daily weight gains, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in growth performance and nutrient utilization of the fishes fed on diets containing up to 30% PLW inclusion. All fishfed diets containing PLW did better (P > 0.05) than those fed the control diet. The most cost-effective diet in terms of cost-weight gain was diet containing 10% PLW. These results indicate that up to 30% of PLW meal could be included in the diet of hybrid diet catfish.