EVALUATION OF FERMENTED MANGO (Mangifera indica) SEED MEAL IN THE PRACTICAL DIET OF NILE TILAPIA, (Oreochromis niloticus) FINGERLINGS

Sa？etak This study evaluated the use of fermented mango (Mangifera indica) seed meal (FMS) to substitute yellow maize in the practical diet for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings (4.76±0.32 g). Five iso-nitrogeneous (35% crude protein) and approximately iso-energetic (3400 ME Kcal/kg) dietsin which yellow maize was replaced by FMSat 0% (FMS0/Control diet), 25% (FMS25), 50% (FMS50), 75% (FMS75) and 100% (FMS100) levels were formulated. The fish were fed on the diets at 5% body weight for 84 days. Alkaloids were highest (2.32%) among the anti-nutritional factors analyzed in FMS, while oxalate (0.84%) was lowest. Potassium was highest (8.91 mg/g) among the minerals, while copper was lowest (0.01 mg/g). Weight gain, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio were similar (p>0.05) in fish fed diets FMS0 and FMS50. The fish fed diet FMS0 had the highest protein efficiency ratio (1.88). Protein digestibility decreased (p<0.05) as dietary FMS increased, while carbohydrate digestibility gave an inverse relationship. Results obtained show that FMS could replace yellow maize at 50% level without affecting growth, nutrient utilization and apparent protein digestibility in diets for Nile tilapia fingerlings