Nutrient Utilization and Growth Responses of Oreochromis niloticus Juveniles Fed Varying Dietary Levels of Sun-dried Watermelon Peel Waste
Funmilayo Bosede Oyekanmi *
Department of Vocational and Technical Education, University of Ilesa, Department of Agricultural Education, Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria.
Oghenevwairhe Emefe
Delta State College of Education, Department of Agricultural Science, P.M.B 4088, Mosogar, Delta State, Nigeria.
Yemi Akegbejo-Samsons
Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Federal University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun state, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study was carried out to evaluate the nutrient utilization and growth response of O. niloticus juveniles fed a diet containing watermelon peel (WMP). Four iso-nitrogenous diets containing 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% were formulated. A total of 120 juveniles were fed at 5% body weight per day for 84 days. At the end of the experiment, WMP was most suitable as an energy supplement when it was incorporated at 50% replacement. The carcass analysis of the fish after the experiment revealed that the FCR values ranged between Treatment 1 (5.93 + 0.73) and Treatment 3 (4.61 + 0.17). The specific growth rate (SGR) ranged between 0.76 + 0.04 in Treatment 3 and 0.059 + 0.06 in Treatment 1. The highest survival value was recorded in Treatment 2 (70 + 0.00), and the lowest survival value was recorded in Treatment 4 (53.33 +16.67). The highest value was recorded in Treatment 3 (47.69+ 0.97), and the lowest was recorded in Treatment 1 (44.07 +0.94) for feed intake, while the protein efficiency ratio was the highest in Treatment 1 (0.22 + 0.03). The highest mean weight gain was recorded in Treatment 3 (10.39 + 0.54), and the lowest was recorded in Treatment 1 (7.67 + 0.96).
Keywords: Watermelon, rind waste, growth response, nutrient utilization, Oreochromis niloticus