Effects of Kidney Bean, Phaseolus vulgaris Meal on the Growth Performance, Feed Utilization and Protein

Abstract

Growth, feed utilization and protein digestibility in the fingerlings of the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (mean weight 1.36 + 0.05 g) fed diets containing varying levels of the kidney bean, Phaseolus vulgaris were investigated under laboratory conditions. The kidney bean was incorporated at separate levels of 60, 40, 20 and 0% (control). The feeding period lasted for 8 weeks. There was no mortality recorded in all the various treatments, and the fish feed avidly throughout the feeding period. In general, the best growth and feed utilization results were obtained in fish fed the control diet, however, results obtained with the 60% kidney bean diet were satisfactory. Weight gain of the fish fed the control diet was 92s.02% , that fed on the 60% kidney bean diet was 71.22%, while that fed on the 20% kidney bean diet had the least weight gain value of 16.67%. Protein digestibility values in the control and 60% kidney bean diets were 85.04% and 81.04% respectively. There was no evidence of excessive fat or carbohydrate deposition in the fish muscle tissues after the feeding period.

Journal of Aquatic Sciences Volume 14, April 1999, pp. 55-60




KEY WORDS: Growth, feed indices, digestibility, Tilapia, kidney bean