Evaluation of Different Protein Blends on Growth Performance, Nutrient Utilization and Carcass Composition of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fingerlings

Abstract

The effects of different protein blends (gliricidia/moringa leaf meals, soybean meal and defatted palm weevil larvae) on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings were studied for a 10-week feeding period. Six diets with 30 percent crude protein content were formulated, the protein sources were included in equal ratios. Diets were designated as fishmeal/soybean (FMS), palm weevil/soybean (PWS), palm weevil/ moringa (PWM), palm weevil/ gliricidia (PWG), palm weevil/soybean/moringa (PSM) and palm weevil/soybean/gliricidia (PSG). Trials were carried out in triplicates with each having ten (10) fish in a total of 18 tanks. Fish fed diet PSG had the highest mean weight gain of 4.35±0.08 and protein efficiency ratio (PER) of 1.14±0.02. These values were significantly different (P<0.05) from those recorded for fish on other diets. Fish fed diet PSG gave the lowest food conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.10±0.02, with those on diet PWG recording the least. Fish fed diets containing soybean meal (PSM and PSG) gave better performances than those without it. The carcass protein, ash and fat contents differed significantly (P<0.05). This results showed that Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings fed a mix of protein blends could give good performance in terms of growth, nutrient utilization and carcass constituents.