Effect of Dietary Lipid Sources on Feed Utilization, Growth Efficiency and Carcass Composition of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles

This study was designed to investigate plant and animal lipid that can enhance feed utilization, growth, and survival of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles. Juveniles with mean weight 32.50±0.5g were stocked randomly to seven tanks replicated thrice, with each tank having seven fish each and were fed with the prepared diets with varied lipid. 40% crude protein and isocaloric diets with digestible energy of 2,933.76Kcal were formulated and labelled Diet 1-7 with different sources of plant and animal lipids. Diet 1, 2 and 3 contained palm oil, Groundnut oil and soybean oil respectively, while diet 4, 5 and 6 contained Pork lard, Cod Liver oil and Beef tallow. Diet 7 (Control diet without any lipid source).

The result showed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and survival rates among the diets. The mean weight gain was highest in fish fed with pork lard (22.12g) while the lowest value of 15.36g was recorded in fish fed with soybean oil. Relative weight gains and feed intake showed no significant difference (P>0.05) between fish fed lipids of plant origin. However, there was significant difference (P<0.05) among fish fed lipids from animal origin. The Highest Total Cholesterol (28.18 mg/dl) was recorded in fish fed beef tallow as lipid sources while the least value of low-density cholesterol (value of 2.26 mg/dl) was recorded in fish fed with soybean oil. In conclusion, C. gariepinus was able to utilize animal-based lipid sources more in terms of growth and feed utilization while the lipid profile result of the individual carcass after the culture period showed that C. gariepinus fed lipid from plant sources had a slightly better cholesterol level than those fed lipid of animal sources.