The effects of chicken feather silage substitution for fish meal in the diet on growth of saline tilapia fingerlings (Oreochromis niloticus)

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study the effects of silage substitution of chicken feathers for fish meal in the diet on growth of saline tilapia fingerlings (Oreochromis niloticus). The fish sample used in the study was saline tilapia with the weight average of 3.21±0.04 g/fish. Completely Random Design was employed in the study with 5 (five) treatments and 3 repetitions. The treatments of the study were by replacing fish meal with the silage of chicken feathers. Those treatments were in various doses, namely; A treatment (0% of chicken feather silage), B treatment (12,5% of chicken feather silage), C treatment (25% of chicken feather silage), D treatment (37,5% of chicken feather silage), and E treatment (50 % of chicken feather silage). Parameters observed were Specific Growth Rate (SGR), Diet Conversion Ratio (FCR), Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER), Efficiency of Diet Utilization (FEU), Protein Digestibility (ADCp), Survival Rate (SR) of Saline Tilapia Fingerlings and water quality. The results of the study show that the effects of the substation of silage chicken feathers for fish meal were highly significant (P<0,01) on SGR, FCR, PER, EFU, ADCP; however, it was insignificant on survival rate of saline tilapia fingerlings. The results also show that B treatment (12,5% of chicken feather silage) was the best dose to increase growth of saline tilapia fingerlings. During study, the water quality was in viable condition.