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Effect of different
dietary protein levels on growth performance and feed
utilization of hybrid catfish (Heterobranchus bidorsalis
x Clarias anguillaris) fry in north-east Nigeria
M. Y. Diyaware1*, B. M. Modu1 and
U. P. Yakubu2
1Department
of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of
Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
2Department
of Fisheries, Federal University of Technology, Minna,
Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
diyaware@yahoo.com.
Tel.: +234 8034822858.
Accepted 5
June, 2009 |
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The effect of different dietary protein levels on growth
performance and feed utilization of hybrid catfish
Heterobranchus bidorsalis (male) x Clarias
anguillaris (female) larvae in north-east Nigeria were
carried out in circular plastic trough (40 cm diameter x 30
cm deep) indoors. Five dietary protein levels 35, 40, 45, 50
and 55% were tried in triplicates. The result showed an
increase in the growth indices with increase in dietary
protein levels. Most of the growth indices mean weight gain
(MWG) specific growth rate, (SGR), mean daily weight gain (MDGW),
protein index (PI), apparent protein efficiency ratio (APER),
food conversion ration (FCR), nitrogen metabolism (NM),
relative growth rate (RGR) and percentage survival (%SR)
were higher in fry fed 50% crude protein. There was no
significant difference (p > 0.05) among the growth indices
of fry fed on both 50 and 55% crude protein levels. Higher
dietary protein level was found to give higher growth rate
in this region, though expensive. The higher protein levels
obtained in this study could be due to the early weaning of
the hybrid larvae from shell-free artemia to compounded
diet.
Key
words:
Dietary protein, growth performance, hybrid catfish fry,
North-east Nigeria. |
