en aquaculture aquaculture پژوهشي Orginal research papers <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><a name="_Hlk137119698"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="color:black">To minimize the dependence of pisciculture on imported feed and improve the production of fish through the valorization of local feeds, </span></span></span></span></a><span lang="TR" style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="color:black">this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of <i>Afrostyrax lepidophyllus </i>fruit powder on the growth and chemical composition of <i>Clarias gariepinus</i> juveniles. The juveniles weighing 13&plusmn;3.1 g were divided into four treatments in triplicates and fed with diets containing 0 (T₀ or control), 2 (T₁), 4 (T₂), and 6 (T₃) g/kg<i> A. lepidophyllus</i> fruit powder for 63 days. The feeding rate was 5% of their body weight. The results showed that adding different levels of <i>A. lepidophyllus </i>fruit powder to the diets improved growth, feed utilization, and carcass quality</span></span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="color:black"> attributes. The African catfish fed with T₃ diet recorded higher final weight (43.44&plusmn;0.23 g), weight gain (WG, 31.43&plusmn;0.41 g), feed conversion ratio (FCR, 0.91&plusmn;0.05), and protein efficiency ratio (PER, 2.67&plusmn;0.14) than those recorded in the control group (40.20 g final weight, 27.20&plusmn;0.52 g WG, 1.1&plusmn;0.05 FCR, and 2.24&plusmn;0.10 PER). The same trend was observed in the body macro-nutrient retention (32.33&plusmn;0.58 % crude protein, 25.33&plusmn;0.58 % lipid, and 23.33&plusmn;0.58 % ash) compared to the control group (20.67&plusmn;0.58 % crude protein, 16.00&plusmn;0.00 % lipid, and 17.33&plusmn;0.58 % ash). Finally, this study clearly showed that dietary inclusion of<i> A. lepidophyllus</i> fruit powder at 6 g/kg improves growth performance, feed nutrient utilization, and body composition in<i> </i>juvenile<i> C. gariepinus</i>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Afrostyrax lepidophyllus, Carcass quality, Clarias gariepinus, Zootechnical performance 925 939 http://jifro.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-4423-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 D.D. Yemdjie Mane dyemdjie5@yahoo.fr 100319475328460051157 100319475328460051157 Yes Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of Yabassi, University of Douala P. Nyadjeu epauka@yahoo.fr 100319475328460051158 100319475328460051158 No Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of Yabassi, University of Douala A.N. Ndjuissi Tamko arlettetamko@hotmail.fr 100319475328460051159 100319475328460051159 No Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of Yabassi, University of Douala D. Agwah Ebile ebilea@yahoo.com 100319475328460051160 100319475328460051160 No Department of Animal Science, Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, University of Dschang F. Kuate Simo kuatesimo@yahoo.fr 100319475328460051161 100319475328460051161 No Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of Yabassi, University of Douala T. Efole Ewouken efole_thomas@yahoo.fr 100319475328460051162 100319475328460051162 No Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of Yabassi, University of Douala V. Pouomogne victorpouomogne@yahoo.fr 100319475328460051163 100319475328460051163 No Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of Yabassi, University of Douala M. Tomedi Eyango tomedi_tabi@yahoo.fr 100319475328460051164 100319475328460051164 No Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of Yabassi, University of Douala