Growth Performance, Body Composition, Haematology and Product Quality of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fed Diets with Palm Oil

Abstract

The replacement value of palm oil for codliver oil in diets for juvenile African catfish (initial weight 24.04 g) was investigated. For 8 weeks, fish were fed experimental diets in which there was either 9% codliver oil (Diet 1), 6% codliver oil, 3% palm oil (Diet 2), 3% codliver oil, 6% palm oil (Diet 3), or 9% palm oil (Diet 4).There were significant differences in body weight gain among all treatments, with fish fed diets 2 and 3 performing better. Fishes fed diets 3 and 4 had significantly higher survival than fish fed diets 1 and 2. Significant differences were recorded in carcass parameters of fish at the end of the feeding trial, with fish fed diets 3 and 4 having higher values. Fish fed diet 2 had higher blood parameters which decreased with increasing level of palm oil in the diet. There was no significant difference in the organoleptic properties of fish fed different dietary treatments and the end of the trial. The results of this study shows that diet with 3% codliver oil, 6% palm oil is nutritionally suitable for feeding the African catfish.