EFFECT OF DIFFERENT RATION LEVELS OF ARTIFICIAL FEED ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF GENETICALLY IMPROVED FARMED TILAPIA (GIFT) FRY

Abstract

Evaluation of growth of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) in flow through system was studied for 8 weeks using different ration levels of the artificial feed. The experimental feed containing 26% crude protein was used @ 3%, 4% and 5% of fish wet body weight. Each treatment had two replicates. The design of the study was completely randomized (CRD) and the significance level was assessed through one way ANOVA. There were numerical differences observed for growth indices such as final body weight, net weight gain, percentage weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) which were statistically non-significant (P ≥ 0.05) between different ration levels except feed conversion ratio (FCR) which was found significantly different (P < 0.05) between 3% and 5% ration levels. While it remained non-significant (P ≥ 0.05) between 3% and 4%. The physico-chemical parameters were within optimal range for tilapia growth. The performance of GIFT fry was comparatively better on 3% ration level of 26% crude protein diet which can be recommended for economical GIFT production.