Dietary Evaluation and Partial Budget Analysis of Earthworm Meal Based Diet on the Performance Characteristics of Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Fishmeal is considered the best protein source in fish feeding but increasing cost and high demand of it in animal and aquaculture industries have necessitated the need for good alternatives without compromising quality. The thrust of this study was to evaluate the potential of earthworm meal as a replacement of fishmeal in Clarias gariepinus diets. In a completely randomized design, 120 Clarias gariepinus (25±0.36g) were randomly distributed into 12 tanks (35L), each containing 10 fish in triplicate. Experimental diets were formulated with earthworm meal (EWM) replacing fishmeal at 0% (EWM0; control), 25% (EWM25), 50% (EWM50) and 100% (EWM100) and fed to experimental fish twice daily at 5% body weight for eight weeks. Growth performance parameters, nutrient utilization, profitability index and survival were measured and calculated using standard procedures. Result showed that protein intake ranged from 6.71g/d to 10.85g/d while protein efficiency ratio was 1.05 to1.59. Gross feed conversion efficiency was between 0.33 and 0.47. Weight gain varied significantly across the treatments with the highest in fish fed EWM50 and EWM0 and least in those fed EWM100. Specific Growth Rate, Feed Conversion Ratio and Profitability index were highest in fish fed EWM50. Survival rate were higher in fish fed EWM (85 – 90%) compared to those fed control diet, EWM0 (80%). Results from this study concluded that, fishmeal can be replaced with up to 50% earthworm meal in fish feed for better growth performance and economic viability of Clarias gariepinus culture. Keywords: Earthworm meal, African mudfish, Growth performance, Nutrient utilization, partial budget analysis