Effect of Replacing Soybean Meal Protein by Other Plant Protein Sources on Growth Performance and Economical Efficincy of Mono Sex Nile Tilapia (oreochromis Niloticus) Cultured in Tanks

The present study was conducted at the fish experimental unit belonging to the Faculty of Agriculture, AlAzhar University. Nasr City, Cairo, ARE during the period from 1 July to the 3 of November 2005. The study aimed to investigate the effect of incorporation of dried rumen contents (RC) or sunflower meal (SFM) and sesame seed cake (SSC) to replace 30% of soybean meal protein on growth performance of growing Nile tilapia monosex with an initial body weight of 30 ± 0.46 g. The experiment lasted 18 weeks after start and the experiment was performed in circular fiber glass tanks with a total volume of 1 m each. The investigations involved four dietary treatment groups. The first group was fed on a control diet containing 30% protein from fish meal and soybean meal, while the second (RC) contained rumen contents, the third contained SFM and the fourth contained (SSC) to replace 30% of soybean protein in the control diet. Results obtained are summarized in the following: 1Neither dried rumen contents and sunflower meal nor sesame seed cake and control diet as protein sources had any detrimental effect on the surrounding water of the experimental tanks or on the experimental fish. Accordingly, all fish were in normal being and activity. 2Replacing 30% of soybean meal protein by sesame seed cake protein improved significantly final body weight of Nile tilapia, however differences among rumen contents, sunflower meal and the control diet in final weights were insignificant. 3Replacement of 30% of soybean meal protein by dried rumen contents, sunflower meal or sesame seed cake had no significant effects on Nile tilapia final body length. 4Incorporation of dried rumen contents, sunflower meal or sesame seed cake to replace 30% of soybean meal protein released no significant effects on Nile tilapia total weight gain and average daily gain. 5Relative growth rate of groups fed on diets containing sunflower meal and sesame seed cake was significantly higher compared to those fed on diets containing dried rumen contents. The same trend was observed in the specific growth rate. 6Groups fed the control, sunflower meal and sesame seed cake showed significantly higher condition factor compared to the group fed on dried rumen contents diet. 7Incorporation of dried rumen contents, sunflower meal or sesame seed cake to replace 30% of soybean meal protein in tilapia diets had no significant effects on feed intake, feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency. EFFECT OF REPLACING SOYBEAN MEAL PROTEIN BY OTHER PLANT PROTEIN SOURCES ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMICAL EFFICINCY OF MONO SEX NILE TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) CULTURED IN TANKS. 740 8Group fed on sesame seed cake had shown the highest economical efficiency and followed by groups fed on dried rumen contents and sunflower meal, while the group fed on control diet was had the lowest economical efficiency. Based on the obtained results it is worthy to recommend the incorporation of dried rumen contents, sesame seed cake or sunflower meal to replace 30% of soybean protein to reduce feed costs without any adverse effects on growth performance and feed utilization of Nile tilapia.