Evaluation of Fermented Copra Meal as Replacement of Soybean Meal in the Diet of Hybrid Saline-tolerant Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. mossambicus) Reared in Seawater
Evaluation of Fermented Copra Meal as Replacement of Soybean Meal in the Diet of Hybrid Saline-tolerant Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. mossambicus) Reared in Seawater
Pia Amabelle M. Flores1,3, Connie Fay Komilus2, Emelyn Joy Mameloco3 and Rex Ferdinand M. Traifalgar3*
ABSTRACT
A 60-day feeding trial was performed to assess the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with fermented copra meal (FCM) on growth, feed utilization, survival, and enzyme activity of hybrid saline-tolerant tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus x Oreochromis mossambicus) juveniles. Soybean meal was replaced with fermented copra meal at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% (by weight). Five iso-nitrogenous (at 38% CP) and iso-lipidic (at 5% CL) formulated diets were fed to hybrid tilapia juveniles (0.42 g ± 0.07) following a complete randomized statistical design. Weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and protein retention (PR) showed no significant differences up to 50% FCM replacement. Significantly decreasing growth performance indices and feed conversion ratio (FCR) relative to the full soybean meal control were observed in 75% and 100% FCM replacement levels (P < 0.05). Carcass composition did not differ significantly in all treatments (P < 0.05). High survival was observed in all treatments and feed intake showed no significant difference among treatments. Protease and amylase activities was significantly reduced at 75% and 100% FCM inclusion which can be linked to the reduction in growth and feed utilization in the present study. Results of the study showed that fermented copra meal can replace soybean meal up to 50% in the diet of hybrid saline tilapia without compromising growth, feed utilization, and survival.
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August 2024
Vol. 40, Sp. Iss. 1
