Evaluation of a practical tilapia diet for small-scale farmers | |
| Author | Lin, Huipeng |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. AE-87-34 |
| Subject(s) | Tilapia Fishes--Feeding and feeds |
| Note | A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Supplemental diets comprising cassava root chips, soaked leucaena leaf meal and tilapia meal were designed for small - scale farmers and tested as feed for Oreochromis niloticus in outdoor tanks. Varying levels of leucaena leaf meal and tilapia meal were included in these diets. The feeding trials for some diets were conducted in both recirculating and static water systems in order to study the effects of the experimental feeds as well as those of natural food resulting from the fertilization effects of uneaten feeds and faeces on fish growth, feed utilization and carcass composition. Leucaena leaves were soaked to evaluate its effects on the detoxification and removal of mimosine. With an increased incorporation of leucaena leaf meal there was a decreasing trend in dietary palatability, growth performance and feed utilization even though most of the mimosine was removed by the water soaking treatment. The availability of natural food showed a significant effect on fish growth. A brown coloration in the water, probably due to the pigments formed during tannin oxidation in leucaena leaf meal seriously affected the water quality and retarded the production of natural organisms and consequently fish growth during the final 4 weeks. It was observed that, coupled with lower dietary protein and energy contents, the diet containing only 28 % plant protein level gave significantly lower growth in comparison with a control diet of 100% animal protein. Nevertheless, this experiment showed that in outdoor tanks it is possible to u s e leucaena to partially substitute tilapia meal as a protein source . Higher inclusion may be feasible if the adverse effects of tannins can be avoided. Through the analyses of feed costs and growth performance in each diet, a .supplemental diet comprising 30 - 35 % tilapia meal, 20% leucaena leaf meal and 50 - 45% cassava root chips is recommended to small - scale farmers for the most economical growth of fish. |
| Year | 1987 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Wee, Kok Leong ; Edwards, Peter |
| Examination Committee(s) | Lin, Chang Kwei ;Carpenter, Kent. E. |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | CIDA |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1987 |