Protein sparing effects of carbohydrate in african catfish Clarias gariepinus.

Abstract

Feeding trial was conducted to examine the protein sparing effects of carbohydrate in Clarias gariepinus, an attempt to reduce the feed cost. Clarias gariepinus fingerlings mean weight of 8.32±0.04g were randomly allotted into a group of 15 fishes per tank in triplicate of 10 treatments. They were fed on nine experimental diets and a commercial reference diet (CRD). the formulated diets have three levels of carbohydrate (5, 10 and 20%) of three carbohydrate sources (corn fibre, corn starch and glucose) and three levels of crude protein (30%, 25% and 20%). the results of the trial showed significant differences (p<0.05) in all the carbohydrate sources fed to Clarias gariepinus at different levels of carbohydrate/protein ratios. However, of the three carbohydrate sources, corn starch and glucose spared protein for growth while corn fibre did not.