EFFECT OF REPLACING MAIZE MEAL WITH SWEET POTATO PEEL MEAL ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND BODY COMPOSITION OF TILAPIA FINGERLINGS (Oreochromis niloticus)

Abstract

A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) peel meal as a replacement for maize meal in the diet of Tilapia fingerlings. Five isonitrogenous diets of 30% crude protein were formulated to contain 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% sweet potato peel meal (Diets 1-5) to replace maize meal in the tilapia diet. The diet containing 0% sweet potato peel meal served as the control. Tilapia fingerlings were raised in net happas of 0.25m × 0.25m × 0.43m in concrete ponds of 1.46m x 1.46m x 0.63m. Each dietary treatment was tested in triplicate groups of 20 fingerlings per happa. The results of the growth and nutrient utilization responses show that there were no significant (p>0.05) differences among the fish fed diets 1, 2 and 5 (0, 25, and 100% sweet potato peel meal) but were significantly (p<0.05) different from fish fed on diet 3 and 4 (50 and 75% sweet potato peel meal) which had lower growth and feed utilization values. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences in the carcass composition of Tilapia fingerlings fed experimental diets. The current results show that sweet potato peel meal has good potential to replace maize meal in the diet of Tilapia  fingerlingsup to 75% level without compromising growth.