Effect of replacing mustard oil cake on growth performance of Nile Tilapia

Abstract

Fish is important source of protein to raise health status of an individual. Healthy manpower has undoubtedly major contribution for the development of nation. In Nepal, there are various form of water resources with varied topography, climatic condition and complex ecosystem which can harbor variety of fishes. Warm water aquaculture in the country can be flourished by rearing the fishes like Nile tilapia in the available water resources and using feed composed of locally available feed ingredients because the farming of tilapia is expanding in global level as aquatic chicken. Present study is aimed to explore the effect of replacing mustard oilcake by linseed oilcake in feed on the growth performance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in pond environment. Mustard oilcake (MOC) was replaced by linseed oil cake (LOC) at three different level 0%, 50% and 100% to prepare three different types of diets. Diets were prepared with about 18% analyzed crude protein content. Fingerling were kept in three happa with three replication for each diet in completely randomized block design (CRD). Average weight of 5.31 g were stocked in happa having size 1.5m×1.5m×1.2m. The experimental fish were fed at 3% of their body weight per day, at once in the morning for five month continuously. No significant difference (p>0.05) in final mean weight, final total weight, average daily weight gain(DWG), survival rate, extrapolated GFY, extrapolated NFY and apparent feed conversion ratio (AFCR) in different treatments was observed. Hence study concluded linseed oilcake can be used as the substitute in the feed of tilapia, if it is locally available.