The effects of varying dietary protein levels on growth performance and some quality parameters of carcass and eggs of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Growth performance and some quality parameters of broodstocks and eggs of female Clarias gariepinus were investigated in this study for 70 days. Fish were fed diets with varying crude protein levels (CP); 30, 35 and 40% in triplicates with imported feed as control. Proximate analysis of feeds, fish and eggs alone were done and data were collected on fish growth and nutrient utilization efficiency fortnightly. Results showed that fish fed diets with 35% CP exhibited significantly (P<0.05) higher growth rate, feed conversion ratio and apparent net protein utilization than fish fed diet with 40% CP. Fish fed diets with 35 and 40% CP had higher CP values of carcass and for eggs while both were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the CP values of other treatments. Egg development was however higher in fish fed 40% CP diet but with marginal differences as compared to the values obtained in fish fed 35% CP diet. The result showed that diet with 35% crude protein produced good growth rate in catfish broodstock and better nutrient utilization as well as improved egg development and maturity than fish feed diet with 30% crude protein.En este estudio se investigó el comportamiento del crecimiento y algunos caracteres de calidad de las reproductoras y huevos de Clarias gariepinus durante 70 días. Los peces se alimentaron con dietas con diferentes niveles de proteína cruda (PC): 30, 35 y 40% en triplicados con alimento importado como control. El análisis proximal de los alimentos, peces y huevos se realizaron y se recogieron los datos sobre el crecimiento de los peces y la eficiencia de la utilización de los nutrimentos en dos semanas. Los resultados mostraron que los peces alimentados con dietas con 35% de PC significativamente exhibieron (P<0,05) mayor tasa de crecimiento, mayor relación de conversión alimentaria y mayor utilización neta aparente de proteína que aquellos peces alimentados con la dieta con 40% de PC. Los peces alimentados con dietas con 35 y 40% de PC presentaron mayores valores de PC de la canal y de los huevos, mientras ambos fueron significativamente mayores (p