Substitution of Cottonseed Cake with Palm Kernel Meal in Diets for Nile Tilapia, <i>Oreochromis niloticus</i> (L.)

Abstract

Palm kernel meal was used in Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus, diets at levels of 0, 8, 16, 24, 32 and 48% by progressively replacing on an equal nitrogen base solvent-extracted cottonseed cake. The feeds were formulated to contain approximately 32% crude protein and 2700 kcal of digestible energy/kg. Each diet was fed to tilapia at 6% body weight per day, three times daily for 10 weeks. Fish fed the diets containing the two lowest levels of palm kernel meal (8 and 16%) had similar weight gains, feed utilization efficiencies and percent survivals relative to the group fed the control diet. Weight gain and feed utilization declined significantly as dietary level of palm kernel meal were increased to 24% or higher, probably due to reductions in diet palatability and presence of increased levels of dietary fibre. The result of this study suggest that tilapia diet can comprise 20% cottonseed cake and 16% palm kernel meal without affecting the overall performance.





Key words: Cottonseed cake, palm kernel, Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus


Journal of Aquatic Sciences Vol.18(1) 2003: 59-64