Nutritional Studies on Partial and Total Replacement of Fishmeal by Jojoba Meal (Simmondsia chinensis) in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fingerlings Diets

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential use and economics of replacement Jojoba meal (JM), Simmondsia chinensis, instead of fishmeal at different levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) through assessing the effect of adding Jojoba meal on growth performance, feed and nutrient utilization, and carcass composition of Nile tilapia, O. niloticus fingerlings. Fingerlings (average weight 1.65 +/- 0.01 g/fing.) were stocked at a rate of 10 fingerlings/aquarium for 84 days experimental period. All experimental diets were isocaloric (437.69 Kcal/100g DM) and isonitrogenous (30.5% crude protein) and supplemented with L-Methionine (0.5%) and L-Lysine Hcl (0.5%). Results showed that there were a significant differences (P<0.05) in final body weights, average daily gain (g/fish/day) specific growth rate (SGR %), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), protein productive value (PPV %) and energy utilization percentage among the tested groups. Nile tilapia fingerlings fed on the diet containing 25 % JM S. chinensis protein exhibited comparable growth performance to those fed FM protein based diet. Carcass composition of fish crude protein decreased significantly with increasing JM replacement level above 50%, while replacement 25% JM does not affect DM and CP of fish flesh. On the other hand, increasing JM replacement level up to 75% increased EE % significantly and increasing JM up to 100% increased ash content significantly while energy content decreased. It could be concluded the possibility of replacement of 25% Jojoba meal instead of fishmeal in Nile tilapia fingerlings diets without any adverse effects on its growth performance or feed utilization. (c) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Asia-Pacific Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering