Evaluation of the Impact of Feed Types on Reproductive Performance and Growth of Clarias gariepinus under different Culture Systems

Abstract

The study evaluated the impact of farm-made and commercial feed types on reproductive performance and growth of Clarias gariepinus under different culture systems (tarpaulin, concrete, metal and earthen pond). The research was conducted for 56 weeks in a newly constructed 1m3 (4ft by 4ft by 4ft) stocked with 20 juveniles each and it was established that fecundity was significantly different (P<0.05), with the highest value (320,366.67 ± 14359.01eggs) obtained in fish fed Commercial feed C in Concrete tank C and the lowest value in the Earthen pond fed farm-made feed (153,533.33 ± 6053.1900 eggs). The results obtained in this study showed fertilisation was significantly different, with the highest value in Metal tank B fed Commercial feed B (83.52 ± 0.76 %), whereas earthen pond A fed farm-made feed recorded the lowest value (63.73 ± 2.27 %). The growth rate showed that the Highest mean weight gain of 3824.23±373.69 was recorded in Con B and the lowest of 2035.57±252.04 in Tarp A.  The highest specific growth rate of 2.85±0.19 was in fish fed commercial feed C in Meta tank C and the lowest of 2.45±0.11 in fish fed farm-made feed in Tarp A. Growth parameters including length gain (cm), weight gain (g), specific growth rate (%/day), and percentage weight gain (%), were significantly better (P<0.05) in fish fed commercial feed B in the concrete tank although fish fed farm made feed and commercial feed A in other tanks showed some impressive competition. Therefore, feeding fish with commercial feed C in concrete pond C and metal tank B with Commercial feed B is recommended for better reproductive performance while the use of commercial feed B in Concrete pond is recommended for fish growth although fish fed farm-made feed and commercial feed A in other tanks showed some impressive competition.