EFFECT OF PALM POLLEN GRAINS INCLUSION IN NILE TILPIA DIET ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF NILE TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS)

Ahmed Abdalla AbdELRahman Ali

Fish Physiology and hatchery Department, Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research, Agriculture Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt.

Received 10/ 11/ 2013

Accepted 30/ 12/ 2013

Abstract

These trials was conducted to evaluate the effect of palm pollen grains as feed additives at a rate of 0.0, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 % levels of the total diet on the reproductive performance and body weight of the Nile tilapia broodstock.Results obtained showed that spawned female/ collection, egg number /fish/ collection, fry number/ fish/ collection, spawning number/ fish/ trial period and feed conversion ratio as amount of feed required to produce 1000 fry were improved significantly (P<0.05) with increasing palm pollen grains level of inclusion. The highest values were obtained with 2.0 % palm pollen grains levels followed by 1.5, 1.0 % and 0.0% levels, respectively.

It could be suggest the use of 2.0 % palm pollen grains level in tilapia broodstock diets for better reproductive performance.

Key words: Nile tilapia, feed additive, palm pollen grains, reproductive performance, growth performance, feed utilization, economic evaluation.