Effect of Fish and Chicken Viscera Incorporated Diets on Growth, Feed Utilization and Body Composition of Asian catfish, Clarias batrachus Fry

A feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of dried fish and chicken viscera, and a combination of plant protein incorporated diet as complete substitutes for fish meal in the diet of catfish Clarias batrachus (Linn.) fry. Four isonitrogenous (35% CP) experimental diets (D1, D2, D3 and D4 containing fish meal, dried fish viscera, dried chicken viscera and plant protein alone, respectively) were prepared using locally available ingredients. Triplicate groups of fry with a mean initial BW of 0.23±0.02 g were reared in plastic troughs (15 L capacity) in indoor rearing system and fed diets at 7% of wet BW for 30 days. A significant increase (P<0.05) in survival, BW gain, protein efficiency ratio and a decreased apparent feed conversion ratio (P<0.05) was observed in fish fed on fish meal (D1), followed by chicken viscera (D3), fish viscera (D2) and only plant protein (D4) incorporated diets. Although inferior to fish meal, growth and feed utilization responses of fry fed on dried fish and chicken viscera were similar and superior to plant protein diets. The fish accumulated a significantly greater (P<0.05) amount of lipid (4.26%) in the body carcass when fish viscera was incorporated in the diet (D2). The results of our study revealed that appreciable growth and feed utilization responses could be achieved through replacement of fish meal by dried fish and chicken viscera in the diet of catfish fry.