Abstract

The growth response of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings fed with varying levels of enzyme supplemented dried rumen digesta meal (EDRD) was conducted for 70 days in Nursery cages (hapa nets) suspended in outdoor concrete tanks. One hundred and fifty (150) fish were randomly assigned to five diets formulated such that EDRD replaces soybean at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40%, respectively. Thirty fish were assigned to each of the diets in hapa nets and fed at 5% body weight daily. Evaluation of growth parameters and nutrient utilization of fish followed standard methods and were based on feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate and protein efficiency ratio. Result showed that control (0%) diet gave highest weight gain of 54.25 g followed by 10, 20, 30%, while the least weight gain was obtained from 40% dietary treatment which recorded a value of 36.09 g. This experiment revealed that EDRD can be tolerated by C. gariepinus fingerlings and support growth at 40% with little effect on specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p<0.05). There was no mortality encountered during the experimental period.

Key words: Catfish (Clarias gariepinus), enzyme supplemented dried rumen digesta meal (EDRD), fish, shellfish.