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IntroductionNile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the most cultured species in the aquaculture industry. However, its market price is affected by the increasing cost of fishmeal. Plant-based proteins are being used to mitigate the problem.MethodologyThis paper comprehensively quantified the growth performance and carcass composition of Nile tilapia fed copra meal via systematic review and meta-analysis. The literature review and paper selection were done based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis method. The data from peer-reviewed papers that qualified from the inclusion screening criteria such as standard error reporting, feeding period, absence of dietary supplements, tilapia development stage, and crude protein levels were subjected to meta-analysis.ResultsResults showed that growth and feed utilization parameters were significantly different (P ≤ 0.05), favoring the control over the plant-based diets. Moreover, the pooled estimate of carcass composition of fish fed copra meal-based diet was not significantly different with that of fish fed fishmeal-based diet (P > 0.05) except for ash content (P < 0.05). The feeding period, crude protein level, fish development stage, and dietary copra inclusions were subjected to meta-regression analysis due to high and statistically significant I2 values to determine the sources of heterogeneity. The residual I2 values showed that these factors did not affect the heterogeneity of the data presented for copra meal. These effects may be attributed to the nutritional quality of raw materials and other abiotic factors like feed preparation.ConclusionNonetheless, data from meta-analysis using model coefficients revealed that the minimum required levels are 594, 617, and 462 g kg−1 of dietary copra meal are needed for optimum growth performance, feed utilization, and carcass composition of Nile tilapia, respectively. The study showed that systematic review and meta-analysis can be a useful tool in optimizing plant-based diets for aquaculture species.

One of the most widely cultivated species in the aquaculture sector is the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). However, the rising price of fishmeal has a huge impact on its market value. Proteins derived from plants have been used to address the issue. In this study, systematic review and meta-analysis were used to quantitatively analyze the whole-body composition and growth of Nile tilapia fed pea meal. Based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis methods, the literature review and paper selection were completed. Meta-analysis was performed on the data from peer-reviewed studies that met the inclusion screening requirements, namely: tilapia development stage, standard error reporting, feeding period, lack of nutritional supplements, and crude protein levels. The control diet outperformed the plant-based diets according to the result, in which growth and feed utilization characteristics were significantly different (P < 0.05). All except the final weight were significantly better (P < 0.05) in tilapia fed control compared to tilapia fed pea treatment. Additionally, the pooled estimate of whole-body composition of fish fed a diet based on pea meal was not substantially different from that of fish fed a diet based on fishmeal (P > 0.05). Due to large and statistically significant I2 values, the feeding interval, crude protein concentration, fish development stage, and dietary pea meal inclusions were all examined using meta-regression analysis to identify the sources of heterogeneity. Not all co-variates explained the heterogeneity except for the feeding period and crude protein % in some of the parameters. The minimum quantities of dietary pea meal needed for best Nile tilapia performance in terms of growth, feed utilization, and whole-body composition were found to be 4.9, 488.6, and 210.3 g kg−1, respectively.