African Journal of
Biochemistry Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biochem. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0778
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJBR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 425

Full Length Research Paper

Protein sparing effects of carbohydrate in African catfish, Clarias gariepinus

Orire A. M.* and Sadiku S. O. E.
Department of Water Resources, Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, P.M.B 65, Niger State, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 05 June 2013
  •  Published: 31 July 2013

Abstract

 

Feeding trial was conducted to examine the protein sparing effects of carbohydrate in Clarias gariepinus, an attempt to reduce the feed cost. C. gariepinus fingerlings mean weights of 8.32 ±0.04 g were randomly allotted into a group of 15 fishes per tank in triplicate of 10 treatments. They were fed on nine experimental diets and a commercial Catfish Reference Diet (CRD). The formulated diets have three levels of carbohydrate (5, 10 and 20%) of three carbohydrate sources (cornfibre, cornstarch and glucose) and three levels of crude protein (30, 25 and 20%). The results of the trial showed significant differences (P<0.05) in all the carbohydrate sources fed to C. gariepinus at different levels of carbohydrate/protein ratios. However, of the three carbohydrate sources, corn starch and glucose spared protein for growth while corn fibre did not.

 

Key words: Clarias gariepinus, protein sparing, carbohydrate sources.