Fatty Acid Profile And Growth Performance Of Nile Tilapia Under The Influence Of 20%, 40% And 60% Fish Meal Replacement With Black Soldier Fly Maggot Meal In Diet

Abstract

Fish meal is an important ingredient of fish feed that can be replaced by other protein sources in order to made fish feed more economically. In the present experiment, fish meal was replaced with black soldier fly (BSF) maggot meal in feed in different proportions to check out the growth performance and fatty acid profile of Nile Tilapia. Four glass aquaria were taken labelled as T0 (basal feed), T1 (basal feed+ 20% BSF) T2 (basal feed+ 40% BSF) and T3 (basal feed+ 60% BSF). The results of present study showed that substitution of fishmeal with BSF had significant effect on the growth performance of fish. The final weight (35.59±0.289) and weight gain (23.89±0.606) was maximum in T1 group and minimum in T3 group which were 29.47±0.388 and 18.81±0.742 respectively. FCR value of Nile Tilapia decreased with increased replacement level of fishmeal with BSF meal and T3 group showed lowest FCR. The T1 group showed the maximum value for final weight and weight gain. SGR showed non-significant difference in all experimental groups. The fatty acids profile of fish showed significant variation in experimental groups. The saturated profile of fish showed the significant difference in all experimental groups. The saturated fatty Lauric acid, Palmitic acid, Stearic acid and Arachidic acid) decreased significantly with increased BSF inclusion in diet of Nile tilapia. The Oleic acid, Linolenic acid and Docosahexaenoic acid are very important fatty for the proper growth and development of fish. The unsaturated fatty acids showed decreasing trend in experimental groups. The maximum value of unsaturated fatty acids is found in T1 group. The protein content of Nile tilapia showed the non- significant difference in all experimental groups. The fat and moisture content showed decreasing trend with increased inclusion level of black soldier fly. It is concluded that 20% BSF is best suitable for the growth, proximate body composition and fatty acid profile of Nile tilapia.