APPARENT DIGESTIBILITY CO – EFFICIENT (ADC) OF Clarias gariepinus (BURCHELL, 1822) FINGERLINGS FED DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CO – MIXED OF BETAINE/β – GLUCAN AS FEED ADDITIVE

Abstract

This study elucidated the apparent digestibility co – efficient (ADC) of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed different levels of co – mixed of betaine/β – glucan as feed additive. Five (5) isonitrogenous (40% crude protein) and isocaloric (1,732kcal kg^-1 gross energy) diets were prepared, where co – mixed of betaine/β – glucan was incorporated as additives at 0.0g/100g, (BBG0 i.e. control), 0.325g/100g (BBG1), 0.75g/100g (BBG2), 1.125g/100g (BBG3) and 1.50g/100g (BBG4). Three hundred (300) C. gariepinus fingerlings with mean initial weight (10.0±0.00g) were stocked at twenty (20) fingerlings per tank in triplicate groups per treatment and fed 3% body weight twice daily. Quantity of feed was adjusted accordingly after every two (2) weeks of sampling for growth performance and survival rate (mean body weight and mortality) for a period of twelve (12) weeks. The water quality parameters were within the recommended ranged for C. gariepinus. Crude protein, crude lipids, dry – matter and carbohydrate digestibility values of the experimental diets were; 86.97±3.5 – 89.25±2.8 %, 83.50±2.6 – 85.35±2.3 %, 66.71±2.4 – 69.35±2.7% and 51.38±1.4 – 52.58±1.5% respectively. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the ADC values of crude protein, crude lipids, dry – matter and carbohydrate. The incorporation of co – mixed of betaine/β – glucan additive at different levels into the diet of C. gariepinus fingerlings had no significant (p>0.05) effects on the ADC values of crude protein, crude lipid, dry – matter and carbohydrate. C. gariepinus fingerlings should be fed with co – mixed of betaine/β – glucan as feed additive. However, other feed additives could be employed which may further promote the digestibility of the feed.