Evaluation Of Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) Seed Meal As A Dietary Carbohydrate For The Production Of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L)

Abstract

A feeding study was conducted to assess the value of Tamarind, Tamarindus indica seed meal as dietary carbohydrate in the diets of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Tamarind seeds were used to replace maize at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 % substitution levels for treatments 1 to 6. Growth trial was conducted in outdoor concrete tanks for 56 days. The fishes were fed at 4 % body weight twice daiy. There were no significant variations in the mean weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) (p >0.05). The apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of protein and energy of the fishes fed diets 1 – 6 were similar (p > 0.05). There were nosignificant differences in the bood total erythrocyte counts, (TEC), pack cell volume (PCV) and red bood cells count (RBC) (p >0.05). Based on the findings, complete replacement of maize with tamarind seed meal in the diets of O. nilotcus is recommended.

Keywords: Tamarind, Replacement, Maize, Oreochromis niloticus

Animal Research International Vol. 1 (3) 2004 pp. 164-168