Comparative Study on the Effect of Commercial Based Feed and Locally Formulated Feed on Growth Performances and Profitability of Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus) Farming

Abstract

This research was conducted in a Pond constructed specially for this purpose at the site of Science and Laboratory Technology Botanical Garden of Mai Idris Alooma Polytechnic Geidam in Yobe State, Nigeria. It compares the performances of two commercial base feeds and a locally formulated feed with the hope to create a possible substitute of the commercially base feeds with locally available and non-conventional protein source that is commonly used in feeding catfish (Clarias gariepinus). The commercial base feed were labeled as T₁ (Vital feed) and T₂ (Aquamax feed) while T₃ represent locally formulated feed containing desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) as a substitute to fish meal. Nine concrete tanks of 1m³ each were stocked with 20 catfish fingerlings each and fed 5% of their body weight for a period of Eight (8) weeks. The water in the tanks were drained every 3 days for proper water quality management while water pH, Temperature and Dissolve Oxygen were maintained within the of range 6.5 -7.7, 25 - 32^oC, and 5.5 - 6.5mg/l respectively. Ten fishes from each tank were randomly selected and measured for weight gain on weekly basis. The initial means weight of the fish were 5.52±0.35. T₁ showed final means weight of 25.03±0.02g while T₂ and T₃ showed final means weight of 22.06±0.06g and 18.23±0.26g respectively. T₁ has the highest specific growth rate of 0.36±0.05g followed by T₂ with 0.29±090g and T₃ with 0.22±0.62g. The best Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was obtained in T₁ with 1.39±0.66. The least feed cost was observed in T₃ followed by T₂ and T₁. The result of this study suggested that T₁ performed best while the locally formulated feed can be cost effective if used for catfish production.