GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF (Oreochromis niloticus) FED DIETARY SUBSTITUTION OF VARIOUS LEVELS OF FISH MEAL WITH SOYBEAN MEAL

Fish meal, soybean meal, inclusion, growth performance, economic performance, Oreochromis niloticus.

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the growth and economic performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis
niloticus) fed dietary substitution of various levels of fish meal with soybean meal. Fifteen plastic tanks
measuring 5x5x4ft (3000L volume) were used for the study for 12 weeks. Juveniles of O. niloticus with mean
weights of 3.40±0.06g were stocked in five treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5). Each treatment was replicated
three times. The first treatment (T1) was fed diet with 38.46% fishmeal inclusion, the second treatment (T2),
26.15% fishmeal and 21.69% soybean meal inclusion, the third treatment (T3) 19.23% fishmeal and 29.23%
soybean meal inclusion, the fourth treatment (T4) 7.69% fishmeal and 38.69% soybean meal inclusion, and the
fifth treatment (T5) was fed diet with 46.15% soybean meal inclusion. The result on growth performance
parameters showed that there were no significant differences in the growth of fish amongst treatments (P>0.05).
However, the result showed that the fish fed T4 did better in terms of weight gain, relative weight gain, absolute
growth rate, and feed conversion ratio. Economically, treatment 4 was more profitable than the other
treatments with a net profit value and cost incidence of ₦4925 and ₦72 respectively. This study revealed that T4
had the best result for Nile tilapia without negative effects on growth and economic returns.