Replacement of fish meal by silkworm, Bombyx mori pupae meal, in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus diets [electronic resource].

Includes references.

This study was designed to determine the effect of practically replacing fish meal with Silkworm, Bombyx mori pupae meal (SWPM). as a non-conventional protein source, at different levels (0, 33.33, 66.66 or 100% from fish meal) on growth performance, feed utilization, body composition and economical efficiency per fish of Nile tilapia fingerlings. A total number of 120 Nile tilapia fingerlings with average initial weight of 109/fish were randomly distributed into four experimental groups in triplicate and were fed daily at a rate of 3% of fish live body weight through 14 weeks experimental period, to study the effect of four diets contained 30 % crude protein in average. Results indicated insignificant (P>0.05) differences in the final body weight, weight gain, daily gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and protein productive value between fish fed diets containing 33.33 or 66.66% of SWPM and the control diet. However, Fish fed diets contained 100% level SWPM showed the lowest growth performance, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency as compared to those fed the other levels. Fish muscles area decreased when 100% of fish meal was replaced by silkworm pupae compared with the other diets. The proximately composition of whole fish body was not affected significantly among the all fish groups fed the experimental and control diets. It was concluded that diet containing 66.66% SWPM (from fish meal) was economically superior to the other tested diets. It reduced about 18.79% of feeding cost per unit of fish compared with control diets.

Summary in Arabic.

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