Utilization of cassava flour Manihotesculenta as a carbohydrate source in diets for Tilapia Oreochromisniloticus

Abstract

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of using cassava flour as a carbohydrate source to replace wheat flour in diets for Tilapia Oreochromisniloticus. Five isonitrogenous (28% crude protein) diets formulated by replacing 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of wheat flour by cassava flour were fed to fish (mean initial weight of 1.23 ± 0,01 g) three times daily at a feeding allowance of 10% body weight per day for 56 days. Fish fed diets with 0, 25 and 50% replacement had similar (P > 0.05) specific growth rate and feed efficiency. Fish fed diet with 75% replacement of wheat flour by cassava flour had significantly (P < 0.05) higher for specific growth rate and feed efficiency. Survival was high (75- 91%) and similar for all diets. It is concluded that up to 75% carbohydrate of wheat flour can be replaced with carbohydrate of cassava flour in diets for Tilapia.