Effect of Substituting Poultry Waste Meal for Corn in the Diet of the African Clariid Catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) Juveniles

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of poultry waste meal (PWM) on growth of Clarias gariepinus juveniles The growth response of juveniles of average weight 6.5g fed poultry waste meal (PWM) was studied for 70 days. The poultry waste meal comprised the droppings from the layers pen, some maggots, broken eggs and feeds that fell during the course of feeding. The proximate analysis of PWM had crude protein value of 9.795 %, crude fibre 8.700 %, ash 25.174 %, moisture 10.794%, carbohydrate 44.286% and fat 1.250% respectively. Five diets were formulated; which were Diet A (Control: with 0% inclusion level of poultry waste meal, B (25%), C (50%), D (75%), and E with 100% inclusion level (total replacement with poultry waste meal). There were no significant differences (p>0.05) between the control and all other diets in the values recorded for growth and nutrient utilization, even up to 100% substitution of maize with PWM. The cost of feed production decreased with increase in inclusion levels of PWM in the diets. The results of the study showed that the use of PWM could be considered in the diet of C. gariepinus even up to 100% substitution level; considering the huge cost of maize and competition for its use whereas PMW is obtainable at little or no cost.