A Comparative Study of the Growth Performance and Food Utilisation of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fed Unical Aqua Feed and Coppens Commercial Feed

Abstract

Growth performance of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus fed Unical Aqua feed was carried out as a comparative study with Coppens commercial feed for six months in concrete tanks. Triplicate group of 50 post fingerlings with a mean bulk weight of 0.50 ± 0.02 kg were stocked in three circular concrete tanks, area 16.63m2 labelled A1 , A2 , A3 , B1 , B2 and B3 . Fish in units A1 , A2 and A3 were fed Coppens feed while fish in units B1 , B2 and B3 were fed Unical Aqua feed twice daily at 3% of their body weights. Growth performance indices showed that weight gain (kg), growth rate (GR), specific growth rate (SGR) and mean growth rate (MGR) of C. gariepinus fed Unical feed was significantly different (P<0.05) from fish fed Coppens feed. Food utilisation indices showed that fish fed Coppens feed consumed significantly (P<0.05) more feed (66.69 ± 5.09 kg) than fish fed Unical feed (48.84 ± 5.07) whereas food conversion ratio (FCR) was not significantly different (P>0.05). Proximate analysis of the dry matter of the two experimental feeds showed that moisture content, fat content, crude fibre content, ash content, carbohydrate and Caloric value (C/V) were significantly different (P<0.05) while crude protein content was not significantly different (p>0.05). Physicochemical parameters including water temperature (°C), pH, dissolved oxygen (mg/L) and ammonia (mg/L) were controlled within the acceptable range for fresh water fish culture. Based on these findings, it was concluded that Unical Aqua feed has competed favourably with Coppens feed in growth performance and food utilisation of C. gariepinus. Unical Aqua feed is recommended on the basis of affordability as a substitute for Coppens commercial feed for C. gariepinus production.