OBSERVATIONS ON THE GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF Oreochromis niloticus (L) FED ON FORMULATED FEEDS

ABSTRACT Five feeds, designated A, B, C, D and E, were used in the culture of Oreochromis niloticus (L) to evaluate and compare their effects on growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR), fish production, survival rate and profitability in commercial tilapia farming in Ghana. Feed A contained only wheat bran and was used as the control; Feeds B, C and E were formulated from wheat bran, fishmeal, maize, palm oil and premix vitamins in varied proportions. Feed D was a commercial fish feed from Ghana Agro-Food Processing Company (GAFCO). The study was conducted in fifteen 6-m3 hapas mounted in a 2,000 m2 earthen pond. Each hapa was stocked with thirty O. niloticus fingerlings of an average weight of 40 g and were fed on the various experimental feeds (in triplicates) for 168 days. Fish fed Feed E had significantly (P < 0.5) higher final weight (267.2 ± 2.12 g), survival rate (93.3 ± 1.93 %), absolute growth rate (1.32 ± 0.02 g/day), specific growth rate (1.06 ± 0.04 %), production (6.26 ± 0.37 kg) and lower FCR (2.46 ± 0.08) than any of those given Feeds A (control), B, C and D. The final weights of fish given Feeds B, C and D were significantly (P < 0.5) higher than the weight of fish fed on the control. The sale of fish fed Feed E accrued significantly (P < 0.05) higher profit (GH¢ 14.78) than any of the fish given Feeds A, B, C and D. It was concluded that Feed E induced superior growth performance, converted more efficiently into fish flesh, exhibited good floating ability and was therefore, more economical for commercial tilapia farming in Ghana.