THE REPLACEMENT OF FISH MEAL WITH POULTRY OFFALS IN THE GROWTH OF CLARIAS GARIEPINUS

ABSTRACT

The study evaluated the performance of Clarias gariepinus when fed diets containing different proportions of poultry offal as a substitute for fish meal. The control group (D1), which received 100% fish meal, exhibited the lowest overall weight gain and survival rate. However, there were no significant differences in these parameters among the treatment groups that incorporated poultry offal into their diets. This suggests that poultry offal can serve as a cost-effective alternative to fish meal without compromising growth and survival. The performance index, which reflects overall growth and health, demonstrated a similar trend. While the control group had the lowest performance index, treatment groups with varying levels of poultry offal substitution exhibited comparable performance indices. This highlights the potential of poultry offal as a sustainable protein source for fish feed formulation in Nigeria. Poultry offal can be a viable and cost-effective substitute for fish meal in the diet of Clarias gariepinus, a key in aquaculture. This alternative protein source does not significantly compromise growth, survival rates, or overall performance indices.