EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL INCLUSION OF MALAYSIAN RUBBER SEED, Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg. (EUPHORBIACEAE) ON THE TAMBACU DIET

Abstract

In intensive production systems, fish are exposed to stressful conditions, becoming more susceptible to diseases, which may reflect on their growth parameters. Alternative growth promotion methods without environmental impacts have become the target of researchers and fish farmers. For this reason, the objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of including Malaysian rubber seed in the feeding of tambacu raised in cages. The seeds were collected on a farm in the municipality of Imperatriz, Maranhão, a sample was sent for physical-chemical analysis of the fixed oil. For inoculation in the diet, the husks were removed, dried at room temperature, crushed and manually mixed with the commercial ration feed following the experimental design. The quality of the water was measured throughout the experiment. Biometric measurements were performed to infer growth gains with the tested diet. The results show an influence on the inclusion of 40% of the Malaysian rubber seed in the tambacu diet during rearing. In order to reduce costs resulting from the use of alternative ration feeds, we suggest the use of Malaysian rubber seed in an attempt to minimize barriers due to the high prices of commercial ration feeds within the fish farming production chain.