FUW TRENDS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(A Peer Review Journal)
e–ISSN: 2408–5162; p–ISSN: 2048–5170
keywords: Clarias gariepinus, juveniles, watermelon seed cake, soybean meal, physico-chemical
Clarias gariepinus juveniles of average weight of 50 g were stocked into a plastic tank of 20 x 15 x 1.2 m dimension with holding capacity of 360 litres and at a stocking density of 20 fingerlings in plastic tank and fed diets containing various inclusion levels of water melon cake meal as a partial/complete replacement of soy bean meal. The water melon seed cake meal was included at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% levels inclusion representing 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% replacement of soy bean diets of the fish. Results showed that fish fed 25% level of inclusion of water melon replacement had significantly higher (p<0.05) final mean weight (250.40 g), protein intake (258.00 g), percentage weight gain (53.15%), specific growth rate (2.33 g), protein efficiency ratio (1.63) and nitrogen metabolism (2192) than the other experimental diets. However, fish fed water melon seed cake containing 50%, 75% and 100% inclusion levels of water melon diets had lower values compared with the 25% inclusion level. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) in feed containing 50%, 75% and 100% water melon cake (1.28 g, 1.29 g and 1,78 g) and (1.65 g, 1.66 g and 1.67 g) had lower values compared with the commercial feed, 25% and 0% inclusion levels (1.10 g, 1.11g ) and 1.12 g) and (1.62 g, 1.63 g and 1.64 g), respectively. The physico-chemical water parameters showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in all the experimental treatments. The carcass composition indicated significant increase (p<0.05) in all the treatments compared to the initial composition of the carcass. The commercial fed compared significantly better (p<0.05) than all the experimental diets. It is therefore established in this study, that water melon cake can completely replace soy bean meal in the diet of Clarias gariepinus juveniles at 25% inclusion level.
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