Profit Indices in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus L.) Fed on Peanut-Based Meals as Alternatives to Dietary Fishmeal in GrowOut Earthen Ponds

Abstract

Persistence of dietary fishmeal probably accounts for the low profitability in farmed Nile
tilapia in Uganda. A 24 week field study was conducted in Busoga sub-region of Eastern Uganda to
compare profit indices in pond cultured Nile tilapia fed on peanut-based meals as alternatives to
dietary fishmeal. It consisted of an experiment and sample survey that targeted fish biomass
production and input-output valuation respectively. Each of the 12 earthen ponds measuring 12 cubic
meters were stocked with 48 ‘all male’ Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) fingerlings of mean
initial weight of 21.7 grams. Iso-nitrogenous diets containing 30% and 25% Crude Protein were
applied for the first eight and last four respectively. Dietary treatments included fishmeal-based diet
and two peanut-based diets; peanut meal-based diet and mixed plant-based diet. Profit indices for the
fishmeal and mixed plant-based- diets were not significantly different (p0.05). On the contrary, the
Profit index characteristic to the PNM-based diet was significantly lower (p≤0.05) than the other test
diets. Accordingly, the mixed plant meal should be used for complete substitution of dietary fishmeal
in pond cultured Nile tilapia.