Growth performance and feed utilization of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed fishmeal-free diets based on oilseed meals

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Résumé

This study evaluated fishmeal-free diets based on locally available oilseed meals for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (16 ± 1 g). Six isonitrogenous (35% crude protein), isolipidic, and isoenergetic diets were tested for 42 days in a recirculating aquaculture system. The control diet (D0) contained fishmeal, whereas diets D1 to D5 were formulated with different combinations of soybean meal, cottonseed meal, sesame meal, and Moringa oleifera leaf meal. Fish fed diet D5, containing balanced oilseed meals supplemented with M. oleifera, showed the highest final body weight (30.92 ± 2.04 g), weight gain (14.57 ± 1.31 g), and specific growth rate (1.52 ± 0.06% day⁻¹) (p < 0.05), with a feed conversion ratio (3.35 ± 0.63) comparable to the control diet (p ˃ 0.05). Survival rates remained high (˃86%) and were not significantly affected by dietary treatments (p ˃ 0.05). All fishmeal-free diets significantly reduced feed cost and cost per unit weight gain compared with the control diet. However, D5 provided the best balance between growth performance and economic efficiency. These findings suggest that fishmeal replacement can be achieved successfully through appropriately balanced combinations of oilseed meals supplemented with M. oleifera in Nile tilapia diets, thereby improving growth performance and feed cost efficiency. Key words: Nile tilapia, fishmeal-free diet, oilseed meals, Moringa oleifera, zootechnical performance, feed cost.

Mots-clés

Oreochromis niloticus, oilseed meal, Moringa oleifera leaf meal, soybean meal, cottonseed meal, sesame meal, fish meal replacement, growth performance, feed conversion ratio, feed cost, survival rate, recirculating aquaculture system