Abstract

COSTA, M.M. et al. Brown seaweed meal to Nile tilapia fingerlings. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2013, vol.62, n.237, pp.101-109. ISSN 1885-4494.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0004-05922013000100011.

This work evaluated the effects of increasing levels of the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum meal (BSM) in the feed given to Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings. The completely randomized design experiment lasted 42 days. Nile tilapia fingerlings (n=75) with an average age of 30 days and average weight of 0.43 ± 0.02 g were assigned to 25 plastic tanks and submitted to five treatments in five repetitions. The treatments were increasing levels of BSM (5, 10, 15, and 20 g kg^-1 of feed) and a control feed (no BSM). Each experimental unit was made up of a 36 L plastic tank with three fingerlings. The parameters studied were final average weight, percentage of weight gain, apparent feed conversion ratio, total length and carcass yield with and without head. The final average weight, percentage of weight gain, and total length were not affected by the treatments (p>0,05). The apparent feed conversion ratio improved linearly (p<0.01) and carcass yield increased linearly (p<0.01) as the BSM in feeds increased. BSM is an additive with potential use in Nile tilapia feed at the level of 20 g kg^-1 because it does not result in growth loss and improves the feed conversion ratio and carcass yield in Nile tilapia during the fingerling period.

Keywords : Ascophyllum nodosum; Feed additive; Fish nutrition; Oreochromis niloticus.

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