Publication: Digestibility, Growth and Economic Performance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) Fed on a Mixture of Plant Protein Diets in Cages
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2020-08
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Kenyatta University
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Abstract
Fish feed is one of the critical components in aquaculture production and accounts for over 60%
of total operational costs with protein component being the most expensive ingredient.
Traditionally, fishmeal (FM) has been the primary dietary animal protein source. However, with
dwindling capture fisheries, FM has become increasingly scarce and expensive due to its demand
from human consumers and livestock feed manufacturers. This in turn makes the cost of fish
feeds expensive leading to low profit margins in farmed fish. Therefore, there is need to identify
alternative, low cost, and nutritionally balanced sources of protein for the growth of the industry.
Although plant-based protein sources are viable alternative in replacing FM, there have been no
studies on mixture of plant proteins to establish their economic utility in fish farming. This study
evaluated the effects of replacing freshwater shrimp (caridina nilotica) meal (FSM), with varying
levels of soybean (Glycine max) meal (SBM), cottonseed (Gossypium spp) meal (CSM) and
sunflower (Helianthus annuus) meal (SFM) on growth performance, digestibility, whole body
composition and economic returns in diets of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fingerlings
averaging 25g in body weight were stocked in net cages installed in three 800m2 fertilized
earthen ponds. Each pond had 15 cages evaluating five diets with three replicates for a culture
period of six months. Three experimental set ups were designed to evaluate the efficiency of a
combination of SBM with other plant protein sources in replacing FSM in fish diets. In trial 1,
five isonitrogenous (30% CP) and isocaloric (3.5 kcal g-1) diets were formulated, substituting
Fresh water shrimp meal with Soybean meal at rates of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%.Trial 2 similar
diets as above were formulated replacing fresh water shrimp meal with a combination of SBM,
CSM and SFM at rates 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. In Trial 3, similar diets as in experiment 2 were
formulated replacing FM with a combination of CSM and SFM at rates 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%.
All fish were fed twice daily at 10% of their body weight. Data were expressed as means and
standard error of the mean. Growth and proximate composition were analyzed using one-way
ANOVA at p< 0.05, and differences among treatment means identified using Tukeys Multiple
Range Test. Results from the study in trial 1, showed that fish fed on D0 had higher final weight
(p<0.05) than those fed on D1, D2 and D3, while D4 had the lowest weight. In trial 2, fish fed on
D1 showed growth performance that did not differ significantly from fish fed D0. However,
highest FM replacement (100%), significantly (p<0.05) reduced growth performance. In trial 3,
D0 and D1 had significantly (p<0.05) higher mean weights than the rest of the treatments. In the
three trials, similar survival was observed among treatments, but digestibility of protein
decreased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing inclusion levels of PPSM in the diets. In trial 1,
the ash content of carcass decreased significantly with increased levels of SBM. In trial 2, fish
accumulated increasing levels of ash and crude fat with increasing levels of PPSM. In trial 3,
crude fat increased significantly across all dietary treatments while ash content decreased with
increasing levels of PPSM. Diet D3 in trial 1 was more economically viable although it was not
significantly different (p>0.05) from D1 and D2. In trial 2 and 3, D0 and D1 were not
significantly different hence D1 was more viable because it was cheaper than D0. Based on these
findings, the present study concludes that the use of either pure fishmeal or fishmeal containing a
mixture of 25% of plant proteins diets leads to similar growth performance in O. niloticus, the
fishmeal containing the mixture of 25% plant proteins remarkably reduces the production costs
and achieves higher profits than when the pure fishmeal is used. The present study therefore,
recommends that for desirable net returns plant proteins can be used in fish farming.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Aquatic Science) in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences of Kenyatta University
Keywords
Fish feed, Fish Meal, Kenyatta University