Productive performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed at different frequencies and periods with automatic dispenser

Abstract

The performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) raised in cages furnished with an automatic dispenser, supplied at different frequencies (once per hour and once every two hours) and periods (daytime, nighttime and both) was evaluated. Eighteen 1.0m 3 cages were placed into a 2000m 2 pond, two meters deep with a 5% water exchange. One hundred and seventy tilapias, with initial weight of 16.0±4.9g, were dispersed into each 1m 3 cage and the feed ration was adjusted every 21 days with biometry. Data was collected from March to July (autumn and winter). Significant difference to final weight (P<0.05) among treatments was observed. The increase in feeding frequency improves the productive performance of Nile tilapias in cages and permitted better management of the food. The better feed conversion rate for high feeding frequency (24 times day -1 ) can result in saving up to 360kg of food for each ton of fish produced, increasing the economic sustenance for tilapia culture and suggesting less environmental pollution.

Supplemental effects of mixed ingredients and rice bran on the growth performance, survival and yield of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus reared in fertilized earthen ponds

“…The resulting mashes were applied at a daily ration of 5 % average body weight of O. niloticus at the start of the study. In order to reflect decrease in metabolic rate as fish grow (Sousa et al 2012), the feeding rate was reduced to 4 and 3 % when the average weight of O. niloticus reached >50 and >100 g respectively. Fish were fed by hands twice daily between 0900 and 1000 h and 1500 and 1600 h by broadcasting at the periphery of each pond.…”

Feeding frequency for dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus juveniles with automatic feeding system

“…However, in most studies, the frequencies examined are relatively low and range from once a day to eight times a day, with very few studies examining frequencies >12 times a day. Recent studies have demonstrated that the use of high feeding frequencies (above 12 times a day) results in improved performance and lower environmental impact of the crops (Castro et al, ; Sousa et al, ). Evaluating different feeding frequencies for the cultivation of common snook Centropomus undecimalis (Bloch, 1792), the values obtained for final weight, condition factor, specific growth rate and daily weight gain were significantly higher for the frequency of 12 times a day compared with low frequencies (Herrera, Kuhnen, & Sanches, ).…”

Circadian cycle of digestive enzyme production at fasting and feeding conditions in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Cichlidae)

“…Under ad libitum conditions, enzyme activities were maintained at high level, with a slight decrease at noon, but both experiments showed a markedly high nocturnal enzymatic activity. Sousa et al (2012), however, compared night-, daytime-, and mixed feeding schedules, getting lower feed effi ciency at night, because of that they proposed to optimize feeding offering feed before the sunset, to closesynchronize the moment of the highest digestive enzymes activity with the fi lling of gastrointestinal tract of fi sh.…”