EVALUATION OF FISH SILAGE SOYBEAN-MEAL BLENDS AS PROTEIN FEEDSTUFF FOR CLARIAS-GARIEPINUS (BURCHELL, 1822) FINGERLINGS

Liquid silage was prepared for minced fish discards by addition of two acid combinations (2% v/w H2SO4 and 0.75% v/w formic acid). Co-ensili ng with milled raw soybean meal was done in different proportions to r eplace minced fish discard at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80% by weight. Six dry iso-nitrogenous diets containing 37.5% crude protein, of which a diet containing fish meal only served as the control, were fed to the fish for 56 days in duplicate treatments in an indoor flow through system consisting of glass aquaria tanks. The best growth and nutrient utiliz ation criteria were obtained for cat fish fed control diet. Ensiled pr oduct consisting up to 60% minced fish + 40% soybean,neat with acid co mbination (diet 3) gave comparable good growth performance. 20% raw so ybean meal/fish silage blend gave the best value in terms of cost per kg weight gain of fish.