Growth Performance, Feed Utilization and Cost-Benefit of Replacing Maize with Fermented Maize Cob Meal in the Diets of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822)

Abstract

The study evaluated the growth performance, feed utilization, and cost-benefit of replacing maize with fermented maize cob meal (FMCM) in the diet of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. One hundred and fifty (150) fingerlings were allocated to five dietary treatments (0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, and 40 % FMCM inclusion) in a completely randomized design with three replicates each and reared for 90 days. Fermented maize cob meal was produced by solid-state natural fermentation at 37 °C for 96 hours, oven-dried, and ground to fine powder. Experimental diets were formulated to 40% crude protein. Results showed that fish fed 10 % FMCM achieved the highest final weight (350.67 g), weight gain (312.67 g), specific growth rate (1.07 %/day), protein efficiency ratio (7.82), and the best feed conversion ratio (0.93). Fish fed 40 % FMCM recorded the lowest growth performance values. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in feed conversion ratio, relative growth rate, condition factor, and survival rate were observed across treatments. Economic analysis revealed that fish fed 10 % FMCM yielded the highest net profit (₦604.03), best benefit-cost ratio (1.51), highest profit index (2.06), and lowest incidence cost (0.83). The study concludes that FMCM can partially replace maize meal in Clarias gariepinus diets at up to 10 % inclusion level for optimum growth and economic returns.