Growth performance and nutrient utilization of Clarias gariepinus fed processed rice chaff substituted diet

Abstract

Aquaculture faces increasing pressure to develop sustainable and cost-effective feed ingredients to meet the growing demand for fish protein. This study investigated the growth performance and nutrient utilization of Clarias gariepinus juveniles fed diets containing processed rice chaff meal as a substitute for conventional feed ingredients. The proximate composition analysis of the experimental diets revealed variations in nutrient content across different inclusion levels of rice chaff meal. Fish fed diets containing 50% rice chaff meal exhibited optimal growth performance parameters. Mean weight gain, relative growth rate, and specific growth rate were highest in this group, with mean weight gain reaching 95.41g/fish. Survival rates were also favorable, with the highest survival rate of 98.77% observed in fish fed the 50% rice chaff diet. However, variations were observed in feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein intake, and protein efficiency ratio among the experimental diets, suggesting differences in palatability, digestibility, and nutrient utilization efficiency. The physicochemical parameters of the water in the experimental tanks remained within the tolerable range for Clarias gariepinus. Overall, the findings suggest that processed rice chaff meal holds promise as a cost-effective alternative ingredient in fish diets, offering opportunities to optimize feed formulations in aquaculture practices. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term effects and economic viability of rice chaff inclusion in commercial aquaculture settings.