Effect of Feeding Different Grain Sources on the Growth Performance and Body Composition of Tilapia, (Oreochromis niloticus) Fingerlings Fed in Outdoor Hapas

Abstract

The study investigated the growth performance and body composition of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L) fingerlings (4.70g ± 0.09) fed Isonitrogenous and Isoenergetic diet of 25 percent crude protein containing different grain sources (maize, wheat, rice, sorghum and millet) designated DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4 and DT5 respectively. The study lasted for 56 days. Fish fed a diet containing maize gave the highest mean weight gain (MWG) of 6.05g; highest specific growth rate (SGR) of 1.47; best food conversion ratio (FCR) of 3.31 and the best Protein efficiency ratio (PER) of 0.93. Fish fed diet containing rice gave the poorest MWG of 4.70g and the poorest SGR, FCR and PER values. However, there is no significant difference in the values of SGR, FCR, PER and ANPU recorded for the five diets (P > 0.05). There was a difference in MWG of Fish Fed Diet 1 (Maize compared to the fish fed Rice and Millet (P< 0.05). The maize diet produced fish with higher ether extract and Crude Protein in the body than fish fed the other grains. The difference in ether extract and crude protein among the five diets was however not significantly different (P>0.05). It can be concluded that cereal grains inclusion in the diet of Tilapia up to 57.90 percent can be effectively utilized by the fish with maize being the best followed closely by sorghum while rice remain the poorest in terms of growth response and nutrient utilization.