EVALUATION OF PREBIOTIC AS A FEED SUPPLEMENT FOR NILE TILAPIA
(OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) FRY

Amal S. Hassan

Department of Fish Production and Aquaculture Systems,Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research, Abbassa, Abo-Hammad, Sharkia,
Egypt.

Received 7/ 1/ 2016

Accepted 8/ 2/ 2016

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to determine the effect of prebiotic fermacto® meal (PFM) addition in feeds on the growth parameters, survival rate, feed utilization and body composition of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
fry. Five diets are containing isonitrogenous (30% crude protein) and isocaloric (4.52 kcal/g diet). Diets were formulated to contain 0.0% (control) 1, 2, 3 or 4 g PFM /kg diet. Diets were fed to triplicate groups of Nile tilapia fry (average weight 1.52 g/fish). Fish were fed on one of five diets at satiation 6 days/week, two times/ day. For 12 weeks growth test, the fish receiving PFM feeds showed significantly higher growth performance (final weight, weight gain, daily weight gain and specific growth rate) and feed utilization parameters (feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, apparent protein utilization, energy utilization) in comparison with the control group. The best growth performance, feed utilization and survival rate parameters were recorded when fish were maintained at the diet containing 3 g PFM /kg diet. No significant differences were observed in fish body dry matter or ash contents at all treatments. Fish body protein content was increased significantly by increasing levels of PFM. While fish body lipid content was decreased significantly by increasing PFM levels. Additionally, supplemented diets with PFM reduced the feeding cost to produce one kg fish gain. This reduction at 3 g PFM /kg diet was 19.2% as compared to control diet. Conclusion, the best effects have been obtained in the diets containing 3 g PFM /kg diet.

Keywords: Nile tilapia, prebiotic fermacto ® meal, growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, economic evaluation.