Mesquite bean and cassava leaf bran in diets for juvenile Nile tilapia kept in water with salinity

Abstract

It was evaluated the inclusion of the mesquite bean (Prosopis juliflora) and cassava leaf bran (Manihot esculenta) in diets for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (2.89±0.43g). 225 fish were used, distributed in 15 tanks (120L) in a completely randomized design in a 2x2 factorial design, two sources and three levels of bran (10 and 20%), and a control treatment free of by-products (n=3). After 60 days, it was evaluated the growth performance (daily feed intake, daily weight gain, feed conversion and survival rate) and corporal composition of fish. The performance and corporal composition, except the crude protein content, were not affected by the source or level of bran inclusion. The brans evaluated may be applicable in diets of Nile tilapia including up to 20% without decreasing performance.