Effect of Artificial Feed and Fertilization of Ponds on Growth and Body Composition of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of artificial feed and adding organic manures to the earthen ponds on the growth and body composition of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT). A total of 160 fish were stocked in each of the two ponds for 90 days. Fish in both ponds were fed with supplementary feed containing 30% crude protein at 4% body weight. Pond 1 was fertilized using cow dung and poultry manure while pond 2, received no fertilizer. Fish were sampled every month for weight and length measurements. Fish were also sampled for biochemical analysis. T-test was used to compare the means between treatments. Fish from pond 1 gained significantly higher (p<0.05) weight compared to fish in pond 2. The specific growth rate and food conversion ratio also showed significantly higher (p<0.05) values for fish in pond 1 (1.52 and 2.4) compared to fish in pond 2 (1.22 and 2.1). Crude protein and lipid composition of fish were found significantly higher (p<0.05) in pond 1 compared to pond 2. It can be concluded that GIFT strain grow much better with the combination of organic manure (cow dung and poultry manure) and artificial feed as compared to artificial feed alone in semi-intensive system.