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ABSTRACT
Fish feed protein ingredients are the most expensive and often unavailable in sub-Saharan Africa especially in commercial aquaculture systems. The major fish feed protein ingredient in fish farming in Nigeria is fishmeal (FM) that is often times expensive and adulterated leading to low productivity of fish farming. This problem has necessitated a need for exploring alternative less expensive and easily available protein sources such as black soldier fly Maggot (BSFM). This study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and nutrient utilization of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerings fed diets with varying inclusions of Black soldier fly maggot meal as a replacement for fish meal. This feeding trials were carried out in 15 aerated plastic aquaria (60×45×30cm3) units stocked with a total of one hundred and fifty (150) C.gariepinus fingerlings with an initial weight of (12.95g) in a completely randomize design (CRD). Five (5) dietary treatments , D1 ( 0% BSFM inclusion as control), D2 (25% BSFM), D3 ( 50% BSFM), D4 ( 75% BSFM) and D5 (100% BSFM) were fed to triplicate group of fish twice daily for 8 weeks. All diets were formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of the experimental fish. At the end of the feeding trial, the proximate composition of the BSFM maggots, test diets, fish carcass were determined, while Analysis of variance was carried to determine the effects of the treatment diets on the growth performance and nutrient utilization parameters. The results of this present study showed there was a significant difference (P>0.05) between control and the varying inclusion levels of maggot meal in all growth and nutrient utilization parameters. The highest weight gain, relative weight gain and specific growth rate ratio was observed in 50% inclusion level of the maggot meal, while the lowest relative weight gain, Specific growth rate, was observed in the 100% inclusion level of maggot meal. The highest feed intake was observed in the 50% inclusion level of the maggot meal, and the lowest in 100% maggot meal inclusion level. The highest feed conversion ratio was observed in the 75% maggot meal inclusion level and the lowest was observed in 50% maggot meal inclusion level. The lowest protein efficiency was observed in the control and the highest in the 50% maggot meal inclusion level . Thus, fishmeal can be best replaced optimally at 50% inclusion level of maggot meal without undermining the growth and survival of the fish as well as reducing the cost of production. Key Words: Black soldier fly maggot (BSFM), Clarias gariepinus, Fish Meal (FM).
