EFFECT OF INCORPORATING BLOOD MEAL INTO FEED ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF CATFISH (CLARIAS GARIEPINUS)

Aims:To evaluate the effect of incorporating blood meal into the diet of catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Study design: Experimental study to reduce the cost of fish feed. Place and Duration of Study: a 63-day trial was carried out at the aquaculture experimentation unit of University of Kara, in Togo, from May 28 to July 30, 2024. Methodology: After a two-week acclimation period, 120 juvenile catfish, with an average weight of 138 - 0.9 g, were distributed in 2.5 m3 tanks at a density of 20 fish per happa, in triplicate. These fish were fed two isoprotein pellet diets with 42% crude protein, containing 30% blood meal (A1) and 40% blood meal (A2), respectively; they were hand-fed three times a day throughout the trial. A control fishing operation was done every week to record analytical parameters and adjust the ration.