Influence of Replacing Soybean Meal by alternative Protein sources in the Diets of Gift Tilapia

By : Raswin Geoffery.G.K , B. Ahilan , Athithan.S. , J. Stephen Sampath Kumar

Page No: 107-114

Abstract
Aquaculture plays an important role in global food security and employment provision. It is the fastest growing food producing sector. Stagnating marine capture yield has intensified aquaculture which helps to bridge the demand-supply gap. In intensive fish production models, the utilization of nutritionally complete feeds with fish meal as major protein source is critical to the success of the industry. The present study was designed to partially replace soybean meal by alternative protein source like cotton seed meal and to study the influence on the bio growth performance of GIFT Tilapia. In the present trial, the cotton seed meal was incorporated in the feed at different concentrations viz., 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20 %. Every day the fishes were fed at the rate of 5 % of their body weight. The experiment was conducted for a period of 60 days and the sampling was carried out once in a fortnight. The mean body weight gain recorded in the 15% inclusion of Cotton seed meal (CSM15%) was 4.35g, whereas in control (C) this was recorded as 3.84 g. The CSM at 15 % yielded better body weight gain than control fishes. There was an increasing trend in the Specific Growth Rate (SGR) from 5 % to 15 %. The SGR in 15 % was 3.90. The growth rate was poor in the fishes fed with 20 % CSM, which proved that the 15 % inclusion performed better growth in GIFT Tilapia. In the fishes which were fed with 20 % CSM the SGR was observed to be 3.69 which was lower than that of the 15 % CSM incorporated diet as well as control feed.

Authors :
Raswin Geoffery.G.K, Ahilan, B., Athithan.S., and J.Stephen Sampath Kumar
Department of Inland Aquaculture, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Fisheries University, Thoothukudi-8.