THE USE OF NOODLE WASTE AS A PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR MAIZE IN THE DIET OF TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus) FINGERLINGS

Abstract

An 84 days study was conducted to investigate the effect of noodle waste as maize replacement on the growth performance, nutrient utilization and cost effectiveness in the diet of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings.  One hundred and fifty fingerlings of Tilapia with average weight of 12.02 ± 0.19 (Mean ± S.D ) were distributed as 10 fish per plastic bowl (0.4m × 0.3m × 0.3m) in the wet laboratory. Five isonitrogenous experimental diets were formulated with noodle waste containing replacement of 0% (control) (D1), 25% (D2), 50% (D3), 75% (D4) and 100% (D5) as an energy source. The fingerlings were fed 5% body weight for 42days and 3% body weight for 42 days, the water was changed at every two day intervals. It was observed at the end of the experiment that noodle waste was most suitable when incorporated at 25% replacement. Weight gain (WG), Specific Growth Rate (SGR), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Protein Efficiency (PE) and carcass analysis were evaluated during this study. The total weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency values of 52.14 ±1.78, 0.20 ± 0.03, 1.95 ± 0.08 and 1.49±0.05 respectively were highest in fish fed diet D2. The final weights of the fish showed significant difference P<0.05 between fish fed various diets. There was significant difference (P<0.05) in FCR among the dietary treatment. D1 is not significantly different from D2. There was also significant difference in the SGR among the dietary treatment, though D1 and D2 has no significant difference (P<0.05), there was also significant difference (P<0.05) in the incidence of cost. The carcass protein also shows significant difference (P<0.05) with the control having the highest (40.5533 ± 0.01) and D1 having close value among the treatment diet (21.033 ±0.02) and same pattern followed for the fat, NFE, moisture content. Noodle waste can effectively replace maize at 50% level inclusion rate without any negative effect on growth and fish health, but, it is produce best result as 25% inclusion level as maize replacement as an energy source.

Keywords: Noodle-waste; Maize; Oreochromis niloticus; growth performance.