Growth performance and nutrient utilization of catfish clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed with rumen epithelial scrapping (resmeal) diets

A 76 days study was carried out to evaluate the growth performance and nutrient utilization of African catfish fed diets containing Rumen Epithelial scraping meal (RESmeal). Four isonitrogeneous diets containing 32.04%, 32.15%, 32.32%, 32.38% crude protein were formulated. Fishmeal was partially replaced with RESmeal. Diet A being the control contain 100%, diet B has 25% replacement, diet C has 50% replacement and diet D with 75% replacement. The result obtained in this study, showed an excellent growth performances and status of experimental fish. The standard growth rate (SGR) was between 1.82–2.41; food conversion ratio (FCR) was from the range of 2.62 to 3.16; protein efficiency ratio (PER) was at 1.83 to 2.86. The hepatosomatic index (HSI) and condition factor (Cf) were between the range of 2.29 to 2.42 and 1.04 to 1.16 respectively. Fish survival was from the range of 32-48%. The apparent crude protein digestibility of diet D (81.46%) containing highest RESmeal dietary inclusion level, decrease significantly compared to other diets which are 85.00%, 86.67%, 86.05% respectively.