Effects of red clover extract on growth performance and body composition of African catfish Clarias gariepinus

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of the red clover extract on growth, body composition and survival of African catfish Clarias gariepinus, Three concentrations (25, 50 and 75 mg/kg) of red clover at dietary were used for 120 days. The final weights of red clover-treated groups were significantly different from each other and the control group. The best growth was observed in the group receiving the 75 mg/red clover kg diet. Fish fed with all levels of red clover had higher weight gains than the control. The highest values of the specific growth rate and the food conversion rate were 1.14 +/- 0.01 and 2.26 +/- 0.04, respectively, for the 75 mg/red clover kg diet group. During the red clover administration period, the survival ranged from 97.78% for the 50 p.p.m, group to 95.56% for the 25 and 75 p.p.m. groups. Protein contents of the dosage groups were significantly different from control (P < 0.05). The highest value of protein content (19.97%) was observed for the 75 mg/ red clover kg diet. Lipid and ash contents were significantly affected by the red clover levels in the diets. The highest lipid contents were in the 75 mg/red clover kg diet (4.67%), and the highest ash content was 1.39% for the 25 mg/red clover kg diet.