Abstract:
Feed costs contribute the most to operational costs in aquaculture production. The nutrient input and utilization need to be balanced, especially proteins, because it contributes the highest cost in aqua feeds. Key constraints to aquaculture development in Uganda are the poor quality and limited availability of supplementary feeds. Where commercial feeds are available, they are often prohibitively expensive. The alternative for farmers is to make their own feeds. However, the limited availability of ingredients, lack of information on fish nutrition and on how to make and deliver feeds often results in poor quality feed and reduced production and profitability. This study was conducted to assess the performance of Nile tilapia (orcohromisniloticus) fed on industrially manufactured and locally on farm formulated feeds raised in cages at Namasagali upper Victoria Nile. Growth and survival of tilapia fingerlings fed with a local feed and commercial feed were observed for 13 weeks. The proximate compositions and economies of the feeds and water quality of the culturing cages were assessed. Fish fed with industrial commercial feeds showed significant (p<0.05) higher weight increase, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and low food conversion ratio than fish fed with local feed. Significant (p<0.05) higher mortality were recorded in fish fed with local feed. The growth performance was a reflection of the proximate composition of the feeds with local feed having low crude protein (10.95%), lipid (3.95%) and ash (4.92%) when compared to industrially manufactured imported feed which had 425 crude protein, 12% lipid and 9.5% ash with protein being most significant. Carbohydrate (69.90%) and crude fiber (2.88%) were higher in the local feed than in industrial commercial foods with an imbalance in carbohydrate and lipid ratio. Mortality was attributed to stress resulting from poor quality of the feed. Cost of feeding with local feed to a weight gain of 31.67g was 80%, while the cost of feeding with a weight gain of 148.58g was 16%.
