Authors : Boua Celestin Atse , Ahou Rachel Koumi and Patrice Kouame
Abstract: A feeding trial was carried out in concrete tank to examine complete and partial replacement of the fish protein with soya protein in practical feeds of African catfish Heterobranchus longifilis. Three diets containing 35% crude protein replacing 0% (FD), 50% (MD) and 100% (SD) of the fish protein with similarpercentage of soya protein were formulated. Soya protein diets were supplementing with 0.5% of methionine and lysine. After 4 months of feedings at 5% body weight, the best growth was achieved with fish fed FD. Growth parameters such as Final Body Weight (FBW), Body Weight Gain (BWG) and Specific Growth Rate (SGR) decreased with the increase dietary soya protein. Similarly, the feed and protein utilization parameters decreased significantly with increasing soya protein substitution in diet. The highest number of the extreme fish size was obtained with the fish fed MD. Cannibalism was observed during the first two months of experiment and was higher in fish fed SD. Fish fed MD showed higher values of carcass lipid content while higher values of carcass ash content were obtained with fish fed SD.
Boua Celestin Atse , Ahou Rachel Koumi and Patrice Kouame , 2008. Growth and Cannibalism of the African Catfish Heterobranchus longifilis Fingerlings (Valenciennes, 1840) Fed Isoproteic Diets with Partial or Total Substitution of Fish Protein with Soya Protein. Journal of Fisheries International, 3: 68-74.