Effect of fermented soybean on growth performance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing diet protein with fermented soybean meal (FSM) on the growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings . Five isonitrogenic and isocaloric diets were prepared with levels of 0 (control), 25, 50, 75 and 100% FSM for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Three hundred Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings with initial weight of 12.78 ± 0.12 g were divided into five groups (20 fish per tank, Triplicate per treatment). Fingerlings Nile tilapia were hand-fed to visual satiation at two meals per day for 8 weeks (56 days). Fish were fed diets containing different levels of FSM had no significant differences regarding survival. Final and weight gain, SGR, PER and PPV were significantly higher in group of fish on T5 and T4 groups respectively. FCR was the lowest in T5 and T4 compared with the control group. Feed and protein intake was significantly highest in group of fish on T1 and T2 and lowest in T4 and T5. Body protein significantly increased with increasing level of incorporation of fermented soybean meal in the diets. These results indicate that incorporation of fermented soybean meal into fingerlings Nile tilapia diets reduced the price of one kg diet to 91.17, 78.21, 74.60 and 60.25% for the T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively compared to the control group (100% of the price).