Use of ecological coffee pulp silage in feeding for cachamay fingerlings (Colossoma macropomus x Piaractus brachypomus)

This trial was carried out at the Aquaculture Experimental Station of the Universidad Nacional Experimental del Tachira, Venezuela. The objective was to evaluate the use of ecological coffee pulp silage in cachamay (Colossoma x Piaractus) fingerlings diets. Two types of ecological coffee pulp silage were used: one without molasses (ECPS) as a control and another with 5% molasses (ECPSM). Each type of coffee pulp was evaluated at three levels, 10, 15 y 18%; and simultaneously there was a control treatment (0% coffee pulp). The evaluation was carried out during eighty-four days. Seven experimental treatments were tested; there were seven cages per treatment with five fish per cage. The results were statistically analyzed using an ANOVA completely randomised design. The results showed that the best weight and length gain (P < 0.05) was for the diet 18% ECPS with 0.53 g/d and 0.68 mm/d, respectively. Feed conversion ratios (P < 0.05) of 2.7; 2.8 and 2.8 for 18% ECPS, 18% ECPSM and 15% ECPS, respectively, and the best benefit-cost ratio for diet 18% ECPS with a value of 1.42. The results did not show significant differences between the two types of ecological coffee pulp. Therefore, it is not necessary to add molasses to the coffee pulp during ensilage. It can be concluded, that ecological coffee pulp silage can be used as an alternative in the feeding of Colossoma x Piaractus, during the growing period, at levels up to 18%.