The Effect of Replacing Fishmeal with Moringa oleifera Leaf Meal on Growth Performance and Feed Conversion Efficiency in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65420/sjphrt.v2i4.192Keywords:
Moringa oleifera, fishmeal replacement, alternative protein, aquafeed, growth performance, feed conversion ratio, Nile tilapiaAbstract
The search for sustainable, plant-based protein alternatives to fishmeal in aquafeeds is crucial for the long-term sustainability of aquaculture. This study evaluated the effects of partial and complete replacement of fishmeal with Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on growth performance and feed utilization in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A 56-day feeding trial was conducted with 225 juvenile Nile tilapia (initial weight: 12.5 ± 0.3 g) randomly distributed into five dietary treatment groups in triplicate. The experimental diets included a control (D1) with 25% fishmeal and four test diets where fishmeal was replaced with MOLM at 25% (D2), 50% (D3), 75% (D4), and 100% (D5) levels. Results indicated that up to 50% replacement of fishmeal with MOLM (D3) did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), or feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control. However, higher replacement levels (75% and 100%) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced growth performance and feed efficiency. The optimal inclusion level of MOLM was determined to be 15% of the diet (50% fishmeal replacement), which supported comparable growth to the fishmeal-based control diet while reducing feed costs by 18%. This study demonstrates that Moringa oleifera leaf meal is a viable alternative protein source that can replace up to 50% of dietary fishmeal in Nile tilapia feeds without compromising growth performance or feed efficiency.
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