GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) FED BAMBARA NUT

Résumé

The objective of this study was to assess the growth performance of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed with Bambara nut. The experiment was conducted at the Hydrobiology and Fisheries Research Laboratory of the University of Jos. The experimental diet consisted of fish meal, Bambara nut, maize flour, cassava flour, bone meal, corn oil, and vitalyte. The diet was formulated to provide 25% crude protein. Bambara nut was used to replace fish meal. A total of 300 fingerlings were randomly assigned in a completely randomized design to five dietary treatments with 3 replicates: T1 (Control
without Bambara nut meal), T2 (25% Bambara nut meal), T3 (50% Bambara nut meal), T4 (75% Bambara nut meal), and T5 (100% Bambara nut meal). The results revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in percentage weight gained, feed intake, mortality, live number, and survival rate among the treatment. Fish in treatment 1 consistently exhibited significantly higher values for these parameters (80.40, 79.60, 79.03, 78.87, and 78.16%, respectively). Treatment 3, however, had a higher value for feed intake (22.62g) compared to treatment 5, which had a lower value (20.26). Survival rates were
similar among treatment levels T1, T3, T2, and T4. Notably, weight gained, specific growth rate, length gained, condition factor, and feed conversion ratio were not significantly affected across the treatment levels. In conclusion, the study suggests that incorporating up to 50.0% Bambara nut meal in tilapia diets does not have detrimental effects on the growth of Tilapia.