Replacement of soybean meal protein by broken lentil seeds as a plant protein source in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) feeding [electronic resource].

Includes references.

A fish feeding trial was conducted in a closed recirculation water system for 8 weeks to study the effect of broken lentil seeds as a dietary plant protein Instead of soybean meal protein (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) on growth performance, feed utilization digestibility and economical study. Four hundred and fifty tllapla fries (Oreochromis niloacuS) with an average initial weight of 0.3g/fish were randomly distributed into fifteen aquaria (30fry/aquarium) water volume in each aquarium was 70 litters. The fish were fed daily at a rate of 1.7% of their metabolic body weight (W)o.s with isonitrogenous (30% CP) and isocaioric (4600Kcal GE/kg) diets. Each diet was given to three replicate aquaria. Chemical analysis showed that broken lentil seeds, contain high percent of CP (26.69%), CF (12.45%) and NFE (55.33%), however, it contains low percent of EE (2.45%) and Ash (2.99%). The results showed that the highest weight gain, SGR, PER, NPU, EU and digestibility coefficient was achieved by 50% broken lentil seeds compared with the control group without harmful effect on the performance and feed utilization of fish. Moreover, such substitution of broken lentil seeds levels recorded the least feed cost needed to obtain one kilogram of live weight gain up to 100%. The broken lentil seed was nutritionally and economically superior as compared to control as non-conventional plant protein source in Nile tilapia feeding.

Summary in Arabic.

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