Effects of frequency of feeding on feed intake, growth and survival of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus reared in hapas implanted in pond in Togo

Abstract

A test was conducted to determine the effect of feeding frequency on feed intake, growth and survival of tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, reared in hapas implanted in pond. Twelve hapas of 1m3 were installed in a 150 m² pond in three lines representing the three repetitions of the four treatments which are the feeding frequencies. Oreochromis niloticus tilapia fingerlings with an average initial weight 4.12 ± 0.33 g, were stocked at a density of 50 fish per hapa. They are fed with a standard food (Raanan, 32% crud protein) at different frequencies (F): 1; 2; 3 or 4 meals per day and at the rates of 8 to 3% of the biomass from the first to the sixth month of the trial. After 6 months of experiment the survival rate varied from 92 ± 0.0% (F4) to 78.7 ± 13.3% (F1). Growth was effective in all lots with final mean weights varying from 181.6 ± 3.3 g (F4) to 124.3 ± 1.8 g (F1). It took 2.6 ± 0.1 (F1) to 2.1 ± 0.0 (F3) kilogram of feed to produce 1 kg of fish; the latter (F1; F3) having respectively gained daily 0.71 to 1.05 g per day. Economic analyzes by comparing the products obtained with the charges involved show a profit margin of -4,992.2 F CFA (F1); 490.0 F CFA (F2); 3,718.0 F CFA (F3); -268.9 F CFA (F4). Three feedings per day (F3) appear to be the best frequency for this feeding, however two feedings can allow the farmer to go about other activities.