| dc.description.abstract | In East Africa, feeds constitute 70% of the total fish production cost in aquaculture, making it, the most
expensive of all the operational costs in aquaculture. This study examined the potential of using a local
feed developed using the less competed and inexpensive alternative ingredients compared to fish meal.
Three diets with varying nutrient compositions were tested on Nile tilapia fry (initial body mass ± SD:
0.2 ± 0.10 g). The experiment was set using three feeds (i.e., imported-1, Imported-2 and farm made)
each tested in Triplicate groups of 50 fish per hapa (dimension: 6 m by 2 m by 1 m). The fingerings were
fed five to eight times a day with their experimental feeds for six weeks using hands at 9:30 am, 10:30
am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm, and 5:00 pm. The daily feeding ratio of each feed
was measured at the beginning of every two weeks after sampling. The feeding response was monitored
and mortality was recorded throughout the experiment. Dead fry (if any), were removed daily and the
mortality was used to determine the number of live fries left in each hapa. The effect of different diets
on specific growth rate (SGR%), survival rate (SR%) and water quality parameters was determined.The
water was exchanged every day to avoid contamination with uneaten feed and waste. The water quality
parameters that is, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH were measured every day using a water quality
meter throughout the experiment.
Results indicated that water quality parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen and PH were
within the acceptable range. The growth performance was best in the group fed on imported-1 feed,
intermediate in those fed imported-2 feed, and lowest in the group fed on farm-made feed. Cost-benefit
analysis results showed that maintaining fry on imported feed-1 and imported feed-2 is less profitable
per kg of fingerlings sold than using on-farm feeds. However, when fingerlings are sold as pieces (i.e.,
as individual fish), the profit margin per fingerling sold is lowest in the group maintained on farm-made
feed, intermediate in those fed on imported feed-2 and highest for the category fed imported feed -1. | en_US |
