GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF Clarias gariepinus REARED ON MEAL USING CHICKEN EGG SHELL AS REPLACEMENT FOR DI-CALCIUM PHOSPHATE

The growth performance and proximate composition of Clarias gariepinus reared on chicken eggshell meal as replacement for di-calcium phosphate (DCP) were investigated for 12weeks. One hundred and fifty juveniles were fed 0% (control), 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% replacement levels meal. At the end, the diet with the highest mean weight gain (MWG) was 25% diet (35.54 ± 5.69) and lowest was 75% diet (23.72 ± 2.60). Highest protein efficiency ratio (PER) was 25% diet (1.48 ± 0.18) while 75% diet had lowest value (1.08 ± 0.04). In the feed conversion ratio (FCR), 100% diet had highest ratio (1.7450 ± 0.1217) while 0% diet had lowest value (1.5518 ± 0.0411). Proximate analysis showed that 25% diet had the highest crude protein (33.38%) value and 0% diet had lowest (24.15%). In conclusion, DCP could be substituted with chicken egg shell in C. gariepinus feed up to 25% level of substitution for efficiency and without negative effects on the growth of the fish.

In fish farming, nutrition is critical because feed represents 40-50% of the production costs (Allan et al, 2000). It is, therefore, very crucial to find an alternative (Jauncey and Ross, 1982) to reduce feeding cost, and to make aquaculture a viable and attractive venture. However, feed additives such as DCP can be sub-classified as therapeutic or prophylactic, growth promoters, simple chemical additives, palatability enhancers and non-nutritional additives (Wilson and Brigstocke, 1981). The feed additive, shells of chicken egg which was used in this study can be classified as a nutritive additive which has the capacity to add calcium to fish. Calcium which is important in fish diet helps in bone formation. Hence, it can be made readily available for fish in their feed (Wilder, 2000). Proximate composition generally comprises the estimation of moisture, protein, fat and ash contents of the fresh fish body.

Results obtained from the growth response and nutritional utilization (Table 1) and proximate composition (Table 2) are below.