Effect of alternative protein blends on Oreochromis niloticus (Nile Tilapia) fingerlings’ growth performance, nutrient utilization and carcass characteristics

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate blends of alternative protein sources (gliricidia and moringa leaves) in the diet of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Five experimental diets containing 30% crude protein were formulated as fishmeal/soybean (FMS, control), fishmeal/moringa(FMM), fishmeal/gliricidia (FMG), fishmeal/soybean/moringa (FSM) and fishmeal/soybean/gliricidia (FSG) and fed to O. niloticus fingerlings for 10 weeks. A total of 150 fingerlings were distributed into 15 tanks in triplicates with 10 fish per tank. The findings showed fish given diets FMS, FMM, and FMG had similar weight gains, while fish fed diet FSM experienced weight gains that were significantly different (P < 0.05) from other experimental fish. However, the experimental fish's specific growth rate (SGR) and f protein efficiency ratio (PER) value did not change significantly (P > 0.05). Fish fed diet FSG had a feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.12 ± 0.01, while fish fed diet FMG had an FCR of 1.23 ± 0.02. Experimental fish's carcass protein, ash and fat contents varied significantly. This study's findings showed that Nile tilapia utilized the experimental diets effectively and could be supplemented with fishmeal.