Usability of Feed Mill Sweepings as a Substitute to Commercially Formulated Feed in Gift Tilapia Culture

Abstract

Feed mill sweepings (FMS) were used as the substitute of the commercially formulated feed (FF) for rearing GIFT Tilapia. The average moisture, crude protein, fiber and carbohydrate, fat and ash content of the FMS were 13.23%, 34.92%, 26.07%, 5.96% and 19.80% respectively. For FF these values were 14.83%, 28.49%, 31.57%, 8.71% and 16.41% respectively. No significant differences was observed in the proximate biochemical composition between FMS and FF. Average total weight gain in 60 days was observed to be 47.22 g and 53.45 g for FMS and FF respectively with no significant difference. The mean instantaneous growth rate per day was found 4.15±0.96% for FMS and 4.32±1.03% for FF respectively. The survival rate was 83% for FMS and 84% for FF respectively. A comparatively lower FCR that achieved with FMS (1.91) over the FF (1.97) suggested that feed mill sweepings can be used as a substitute to formulated feed in GIFT tilapia culture.