Nutritional Composition and Growth Performance of Fish Meal Supplemented with Sesame indicum (Beni Seed) in the Diets of Clarias gariepinus

This study analyzed the chemical compositions, growth performance and nutrient efficiency of fish meal supplemented with varying percentage of S. indicum). A total of 150 of C. gariepinus fingerlings were grouped into 6 tanks with 20 C. gariepinus per tank. Each tank of fish was served with prepared fish meals supplemented with various levels of beniseed (S. indicum), namely, DT1 (commercial diet), stand as the control group, DT2 (0% beniseed with 100% soya bean meal, DT3 (25% beniseed with 75% soya bean meal, DT4 (50% beniseed with 50% soya bean, DT5 (75% beniseed with 25% soya bean and DT6 (100% beniseed with 0% soya bean, individually. Chemical compositions of each experimental diet and fish carcass were determined and the feed utilization by fishes was equally monitored and calculated. Higher levels of moisture content (7.42%), crude fiber (4.24%), total ash (3.16%), crude protein and fat (29.21 and 30.01%) and carbohydrate (27.21%) were established for the dietary group (DT6) as compared to other dietary groups. In contrast, the fish carcass moisture, crude fiber, and total ash contents were high in fish fed DT4 and DT2 compared to others. Elevated calcium (760.7 and 763.6 mg/100g), phosphorus (683.4 and 685.1 mg/100g), sodium (302.4 and 303.4 mg/100g), potassium (820.6 and 825 mg/100g) and iron (32.67 and 37.31 mg/100g) contents were noted in DT5 and DT6 than the other diets. The fish carcass fed DT6 were richer in calcium (803 mg/100g), phosphorus (5023 mg/100g), sodium (492 mg/100g), potassium (6313 mg/100g) and iron (5.12 mg/100g) than the others. C. gariepinus fed DT6 recorded high weight gains (45.64 mg) while fish DT4 had a value of length gain (1.80 cm). Higher significant values were observed for SGR (54.33%), PER (2.47%), FI (2.85%) and SR (80.23%) as feed utilization in fish fed DT6. However, experimental diets (DT5 and DT6) with 75 and 100% S. indicum inclusion look promising and would enhance adequate growth performance and nutrient utilization of C. gariepinus, which may be used for the development of the product in various food industries. Keywords: C. gariepinus, fish meal, feed efficiency, growth performance, S. indicum.