Growth Performance, Survival Rate and Nutrient Profile of Clarias Gariepinus Fingerlings Fed Rations of Soybean as Alternative Protein Source

The need to augment fish production from the wild has necessitated increased attention in aquaculture. Such culture encourage the use of cheap and readily available feed which brings about increased size and high yield. Fishmeal was substituted (100%, 65%, 35%, 0%) with soybean (0%, 35%, 65% 100%) in Clarias gariepinus diet. One hundred and sixty fingerlings having mean body weight of approximately 10g each, were distributed into eight concrete tanks measuring 1×1×1.5m at the rate of twenty fingerlings/tank and fed albitium. Analysis of variance revealed that the highest value for final mean body weight (71.5 g), specific growth rate (2.3) and Protein Efficiency Ratios (1.48), were observed in diet 3. Glutamic acid was the major amino acid with the highest concentration (1.5 g) in diet 2. There was a decreasing level of Lysine and Methionine with increasing levels of soy bean inclusion, at various treatments. The study has shown that when 35% fishmeal was substituted with 65% soybean, fish yield was not only at its highest production, but was also nutritionally beneficial.