Effect of Feeding Different Levels of Cellulose on the Growth Performance and Body Composition of Oreochromis niloticus PDF

Keywords

∝- cellulose, feeding levels, cellulose

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of different levels of ∝- cellulose on the growth performance and body composition of Oreochromis niloticus. Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets containing 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12% of ∝- cellulose were prepared and fed to fingerling Oreochromis niloticus (average weight ± 11.74 0.19 g) for a period of 39 days. Significant differences (P< 0.05) were observed in the weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) of fish fed different levels of ∝- cellulose. The diet containing 3% cellulose showed the poorest weight gain, SGR, FCR, and PER values as compared to all other diets whereas the best values were observed for the diets containing 9 or 12% cellulose. Increasing the level of cellulose from 9 to 12% in the diet did not produce any further significant (P>0.05) beneficial effects. The level of cellulose in the diest did not affect (P> 0.05) the feed intake or the condition factor (k) of fish. Supplementation of cellulose at 6% level in the diet produced similar results (P<0.05) as compared to that of a diet without cellulose. The increasing level of cellulose in the diet increased body moisture and decreased crude protein and fat contents of fish. It may be concluded from these results that cellulose at a level of 9% in the diet of Oreochromis niloticus can improve their growth performance, FCR and PER and will produce leaner fish as compared to those without cellulose. Higher levels of cellulose may not have any further beneficial effects.