Feasibility of fishmeal replacement by shrimp head silage protein hydrolysate in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L) diets

• DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.1092
• Publication Date: 2002-10-06T12:20:06Z
• Authors: Maribel Plascenci...; Miguel A Olvera‐N...; José Luis Arredon...; George M Hall; Keiko Shirai
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences

AbstractThis study provides information on the use of shrimp head silage protein hydrolysate (SPH) as an alternative protein source for tilapia feeding. Six diets (28% protein, 12% lipid) were prepared where fishmeal protein was replaced at levels of 0 (control), 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30% with the hydrolysate. The diets were supplied to Nile tilapia fry (338 mg initial weight) stocked in plastic recirculating 20 l tanks (10 animals per tank), with three replicates per treatment. After an 8 week experimental period, fish fed the diets containing 10 and 15% SPH showed significantly better performance in terms of final body weight, weight gain (%), mean daily weight gain (mg day−1), specific growth ratio and feed conversion ratio than those fed the control diet (fishmeal as protein source) and higher‐SPH diets. It is concluded that shrimp head hydrolysate is a promising alternative protein source for tilapia feeding, improving growth ratio at dietary inclusion levels as high as 15%. In addition, the diets with added shrimp silage protein were well accepted by the fish, which avidly consumed the feed during the experiment.© 2002 Society of Chemical Industry