Nutritional evaluation of varying levels of cooked flamboyant seed meal (Delonix regia) on the growth performance and body composition of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of inclusion level of cooked Delonix regia seed meal (CDRM) in the practical diet of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings through their growth performance and nutrient utilization for 56 days. Four iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic experimental diets were formulated to contain 35% crude protein and 9.5% lipid, CDRM was included at different varying inclusion levels viz: 0, 10, 15 and 20 and were designated as D1 (0 % inclusion), D2 (10 % inclusion), D3 (15 % inclusion) and D4 (20 % inclusion). Each treatment was allocated to three tanks of twenty O. niloticus per tank with initial mean weight of 1.18±0.10g. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the survival rate of all the treatments, D2 has the highest value in percentage weight gain, specific growth rate, feed intake, protein efficiency and protein retention, while D4 (20% inclusion) had the lowest value in all the growth parameters and feed utilization measured. However, there is no significant difference (P>0.05) between fish fed D3 (15% inclusion) and D1 (control: 0% inclusion). Proximate composition result revealed that increase in the inclusion level of cooked Delonix regia lead to an increase in carcass lipid content and a decrease in the moisture content of the fish fed experimental diet. The results indicate 10-15% inclusion of Delonix regia seed meal improved growth performance and nutrient utilization of Nile tilapia fingerlings.