Effect of dietary inclusion of palm kernel meal on feed intake, growth and body composition of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus reared in concrete tanks in Togo
An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of inclusion of palm kernel meal on feed intake, growth and body composition of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus reared in concrete tanks. Fingerlings of fish with an average initial weight 5.18 0.06 g were fed five isonitrogenous diets (R0, R1, R2, R3 and R4) containing respectively 0% 10% 20% 30% and 40% of palm kernel meal. These diets were compared with a commercial fish feed (Raanan) all about 32% After 8 weeks of experiment the final body weight varied between 25.75 g and 38.18 g according to the tested treatments. The best growth rate and food conversion ratio were obtained by feed containing 30% and 40% of palm kernel meal, with respective specific growth rate (SGR) of 3.35%/d and 3.08%/d and food conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.67 and 2.00 against a SGR of 3.58%/d and a FCR of 1.53 obtained with commercial food (RC) This successful test which allowed determining the optimal dietary inclusion of palm kernel meal at 30% in Tilapia on growing feed will be pursued by nutritional improvement tests of this ingredient in order to have a performed feed for Tilapia rearing in Togo.