Replacement of Fish Meal with Feather Meal in the Diet of Clarias gariepinus

Abstract

Background: Among the factors that affect fish production in Nigeria are scarcity and high cost of most of the ingredients use in preparing fish feeds. The research was con-ducted to check the effects of substituting a fish meal with a feather meal on the growth and nutrient utilization of Clarias gariepinus juveniles. Methodology: The study had five treatments and was carried out on the fish in three rep-licates per treatment (mean weight of 115g) for ten weeks. Each tank of 50- litre capaci-ty, filled with 25 litre of water, was stocked with ten fish per tank. The specimens were fed twice daily at 3% of their body weight. The feeds were formulated to replace the fish meal content with feather meal at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% inclusion levels. The fish weights were taken fortnightly, water quality parameters were monitored weekly, and the growth parameters were computed. Results: The mean weight gain, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio were highest in the fish fed 0% (control diet) and 25% feather meal inclusion with no signifi-cant difference. The study revealed that feather-substituted diets enhanced the growth and survival of Clarias gariepinus, especially at 25% and 50% inclusion levels of feather meal. Conclusion: Feather meal could be used as a substitute to fish meal in the diet of Clarias gariepinus to reduce the fish feed production cost.