Effect of Substituting Fish Meal with Various Plant Powders on the Growth Performance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.)

Abstract

Nile tilapia is considered to be one of most common fish species that has great potential in the freshwater aquaculture industry in Sudan. This study aimed to assess the effects on the growth and body composition of O. niloticus fingerlings by replacing the dietary fish meal (FM) with various plant powders. FM has been replaced in the basic diet of O. niloticus with peanut, millet, sorghum and wheat polish. Two hundred fish fingers (5 g) were divided into four equal groups. The growth parameters of the fish were calculated after 90 days of feeding. The levels of crude protein, fat, fiber, moisture and ash in experimental diets showed differences between the diets. In general, the lowest levels of crude protein, fat, fiber, moisture and ash were found in fish fed with sorghum. In summary, this study contributes to the ongoing research into the use of vegetable proteins as an alternative to fish diet, which are both cheaper and valuable sources of protein.