Substitution of soybean meal by waterhyacinth hay in diets of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings were divided into twelve groups (2/treatment) and fed on one of six different diets containing soybean meal protein replaced by 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% protein of waterhyacinth (Eichhorinia crassipes ) in one feeding experiment for 70 days. The experimental diets were pellets and fed at a rate of 3% of the live fish body weight for six days weekly. The feeding experiment was conducted in 12 glass aquaria (60x35x40cm) filled with 70 liter each and stoked with 10 fish. Body weight gain, specific growth rate, productive protein values and protein efficiency ratio of fish were decreased by increasing the level of replacement with water hyacinth more than 20%. It is therefore, recommended to use waterhyacinth protein at a level up to 20% of  soybean protein in a diet for feeding Nile tilapia fingerlings.


INTRODUCTION

Aquaculture is the fastest growing sector of word human  food  production and has an annual increase of about 10% (FAO,1997). To sustain such a high rate of growth a matching increase in fish feed production is imperative(Francis et al.,2001). Soybean meal has been used as a protein source in diets of various fish species (Jackson et al.,1982; and Xie et al., 2001). The extensive use of soybean in animal and human nutrition has made it necessary to identify new protein sources as substitutes for soybean meal. For economic and practical reasons, fish feeds must include locally available protein sources, preferably those unsuitable for human consumption. Protein of leaves can be used after it has been extracted (Pirie.1971). Waterhyacinth is a warm water aquatic plant which widespread in many countries, particularly during summer months with its highest growth in July. Waterhyacinth is a very widely distributed weed in the River Nile. In the tropics, waterhyacinth could double its population every seven days to yield an annual productivity of 930-2900 tons/hectare (Laro and Bressani,1982). Extraction of waterhyacinth showed satisfactory results for both extracted protein and fibrous residues. These processes may eliminate some anti-nutrients, such as tannins, nitrates and oxalates (Stephens et al,1972;and El-serafy et al,1980). The aim of the present work was to study the effect of replacing plant protein in soybean meal by different levels of water hyacinth leaf protein (WLP) (0,10,20,30,40,and50%) in Nile tilapia diets  and their effect on growth performance, body composition, organs weight, nutrients utilization economic efficiency.


MATERIAL AND METHODS

The present work was carried out as in-door  experiment at the wet lab of the Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafr El-Sheikh, Tanta University during season  2005.


1-Fish and management:

A total number of 120 fingerlings of   Oreochromis  niloticus with an average initial body weight of 10 g were used in this study. The fish were taken from the  stock of Moassaset El-Shoraky (a private fish hatchery at Kafr El-Sheikh . The fish were divided into 12 similar groups in glass aquaria (60x35x40cm) containing 70L of water with 10 fish in each. The groups were distributed into the experimental treatments in duplicate groups (aquaria). Four air pumps and 12 air stones were used for aerating the aquaria waters. Samples of water from each aquarium were taken weekly to determine the temperature by using a thermometer, pH by using pH meter (Oriant Research Model 201), dissolved oxygen was measured means an oxygen-meter model 9070. Analyses of NO2, NO3 and Hardness were carried out using kits (Hach international  Co., Cairo, Egypt). Analyses of PO4 and alkalinity were estimated by kits (LaMotte International Co., Cairo, Egypt).  

Light was controlled by a timer to provide 14-h light : 10-h dark as a daily photoperiod. The fingerlings were acclimatized for one week to the aquarium condition and feeding regime. Six isonitrogenous (26% crude protein and isocalorlic (18.55 MJ/Kg ) feed mixtures, from local ingredients and imported herring meal were formulated and offered for 10 weeks. The ingredients used and chemical analysis of the mixed diets are presented in Table 2. Fish were daily offered the diets at a rate of 3% of their body weight. Fish were weighed weekly and the amount of feed for each aquarium was adjusted  accordingly. The daily ration was introduced at 2 equal meals at 8 am and 2 pm. Dechlorinated tap water was used to change one third of the water in each aquarium every day.


2-Diet formulation:

Waterhyacinth hay (Eichhornia crassipes) weeds were collected from a canal at Tanta, Manshiet Ganzor. The roots were removed and the rest of the plants were washed with running tap water to minimize the soil contamination, then dried under sunlight, and stored at room temperature until used (Table1). Dried waterhyacinth plant, were added in the diets to replace 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% of soybean meal protein and designated as diets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively (Table, 2).

3- Biochemical analysis:

Feed and fish samples at the beginning and fish samples (4-5 fishes) from each group were obtained at the end of the experiment for chemical analysis for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract(EE), and ash in the fish whole body  besides crude fiber, CF in the diets  according to A.O.A.C. (1980).


4- Performance parameters:

Average weight gain (AWG), average daily gain (ADG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), protein productive value (PPV), and survival rate (SR) were calculated according to the following equation:

1- AWG(g/fish)=[Average final weight(g)-average initial weight(g)].

2- ADG(g/fish/day)=[AWG(g)/experimental period(d)]

3- SGR(%/day)=In final weight-In initial weight(g)x100/experimental period(d).

4- FCR=feed intake, dry weight(g)/live weight gain(g).

5- PER=live weight gain(g)/protein intake(g).

6- PV=100[Retained protein(g)/consumed protein].

7- SR=100[Total No. of fish at the end of the experiment/Total No. of fish at the start of the experiment].

5-Organs indices:

All fish were killed and soon abdominal cavity was opened to remove liver, kidneys, gonads, and spleen which were weighed individually. Hepato (HSI), kidney (KSI), gonado (GSI), and spleeno (SSI) somatic indices were calculated as follow:

HIS =Liver weight x 100/Gutted fish weight (Jangaard et al;1967).

KSI = Kidneys weight x 100 / fish weight ( Alabaster and Lioyd, 1982 ).

GSI = Gonads weight x 100 / fish weight ( Tseng and Chan, 1982).

SSI  = Spleen weight x 100 / fish weight ( Abdelhamid et al., 2004d).

6-Statistical analysis:

The obtained numerical data were statistically analyzed using SPSS (1997) for one-way  analysis of variance. When F-test result was significant, least significant difference was calculated according to Duncan multiple range test (1955).


RESULTS

1- Water quality parameters:

The most important physico-chemical parameters of tap water used in the experiment are shown in Table (3). Data in this Table indicate that the values obtained  lie in the acceptable ranges required for normal growth of tilapia (AbdEl-Hakim et al., 2002 and Abdelhamid, 2003).

2- Growth performance:

Data concerning average weight gain (AWG), Average daily gain (ADG), specific growth rate (SGR) and survival rate  (SR) are presented in Table (4). Results present in this Table show that values of AWG, ADG, SGR and SR did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among diets. But the results clearly show  that the diet containing 10% waterhycinth was slightly better in average weight gain, average daily gain and specific growth rate than the control diet and other treatments. Results of Table (4) also clearly show  that the diets containing 30%, 40%, and 50% waterhycinth gave slightly lower values than the control diet.

3- Feed and protein utilization:

Feed and protein utilization expressed as feed conversion ratio(FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and protein productive value (PPV) are given in Table (5). The data indicated that FCR and PER did not differ significantly among diets, but PPV showed significant  (P≤0.05) increases of  diets 1, 2and 3 compared with the other treatments.

4- Body composition:

Values of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and ash of the fish body are summarized in Table (6). The results of carcass composition of Nile tilapia showed no significance (p>0.05) in dry matter and crude protein among fish treatments. Ether extract and ash percentages differed significantly among fish groups. 

5- Internal organs Indices:

Dietary waterhycinth inclusion did not significantly influence  (Table 7) HSI and GSI (female), but there were significant differences among  treatments concerning GSI (male), KSI and SSI.

6- Economic efficiency:

The economic parameters of the tested diets are presenters in Table (8). The calculation depends on the average price of dietary ingredients at year (2005) where local market LE, vit.&min. 12100LE, and waterhyacinth 250LE. The calculated figures showed lower cost of one ton of all diets containing waterhyacinth, However, the control diet recorded the highest price being 1700.7l LE/ton. The diets containing (30%, 40%, and 50% waterhyacinth) showed the lowest fish gain comparing with the other waterhyacinth levels (10% and 20%) and the control diet. Therefore, diets No 4, 5 and 6 showed high cost/kg gain but the levels of 10% and 20% waterhyacinth gave the lowest feed cost/kg gain being(1.93 and 2.04 LE).

DISCUSSION

Lim and Doming, (1989) reported that high levels of plant protein in fish diets resulted in some cases in reduced growth and poor efficiency, probably as a result of improper balance of essential nutrients, such as amino acids and minerals, or decrease of palatability and pellet water stability value. In feed formulations containing high levels of plant protein supplements, available phosphorous needs to be considered and phosphorous supplements are usually added (Akiyama, 1990). Nour et al, (1989) used waterhyacinth and berseem as leaf protein concentrates in common carp diets. They reported that both tested protein sources (waterhyacinth  and berseem) could be used successfully when replacing 30% of the fish meal of the diet. The present results are in good agreement with those found in previous work done by Abdelhamid and Gabr, (1990b), concerning the feed intake, and conversion values of waterhyacinth. Although Abou-Raya et al (1980) gave analysis of wilted shoots of waterhyacinth near to the present values; yet, EL-Serafy et al.(1980) in their work on waterhyacinth hay found lower CP (7.97%) and EE (1.44%) and higher ash (32%) contents. Also, Becker et al. (1987) reported lower values for different nutrients in the whole plant than those found in the present work. The present findings of leaves differed too from those reported by Mishra et al. (1987), who found lower CP and ash and higher CF contents. Low energy concentration was given too by Becker et al. (1987) for waterhyacinth as approximately 4-7 MJ/kg DM.                                                    
        
                                            
CONCLUSION

The results suggested the usefulness of  water hyacinth  to replace up to 20% soybean meal protein in tilapia fish diets.


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AUTHORS:

Abdelhamid,A.M.¹; M.F.I.Salem² and  M.M.E.Khalafalla³

¹Department of Animal Prod.,Fac., Agric., Mansoura Univ, ²Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research-Abbassa, Sakha Aquaculture Research Unit, ³Department of Animal Prod.,Fac. Agric., Kafr El-Sheikh, Tanta Univ.