Growth Performance Of Mono-Sex And Mixed Sex Population Of <i>Oreochromis niloticus</i> Fed Similar Diet

Abstract

The growth performance of all-male, all-female and mixed sex population of Oreochromis niloticus fed similar diet was carried out. The fingerlings used in the study were of relatively similar weight ranges (24.8 g – 26.6 g) with initial mean weight of 25.7±1.3 g and initial mean total length of 3.8 ± 1.5 cm. The mean increase in weight for the all-male Oreochromis was significantly higher than the values for the all-female Oreochromis and the control (P < 0.05). The food conversion ratio (FCR) was best in the all-male Oreochromis, while that of all-female was better than that of the mixed population. There was no significant difference between the food conversion ratio of all-male Oreochromis and those of all-female and mixed population (P > 0.05). The percentage survival of all-male O. niloticus was 94 % and that of all-female was 88 %, while that of the mixed population was 74 %. All-male O. niloticus grew better than the all-female under the same expermental conditions. It is therefore recommended that the culture of all-maleO. niloticus species by fsh farmers should be encouraged for increased fish production in Nigeria.

Keywords: Mono-sex culture, All-male, All-female, Oreochromis niloticus

Animal Research International Vol. 1 (2) 2004 pp. 106-109