Comparative Analysis of Floating Feed from Different Sources for Optimizing the Growth Performance of Oreochromis Shiranus Fingerlings

Banda, Salomy Tadala; Kang&#039;ombe, Jeremiah; Jere, Wilson; Opoku, Martin

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2025.434611.6844

Comparative Analysis of Floating Feed from Different Sources for Optimizing the Growth Performance of Oreochromis Shiranus Fingerlings

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Aquaculture and Fisheries Science Department, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)

² Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Science, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)

10.21608/ejabf.2025.434611.6844

Abstract

The study evaluates the effects of floating feeds from different sources on the growth performance, feed utilization, nutrient digestibility and water quality for Oreochromis shiranus fingerlings cultured in hapa under pond systems in Malawi. Five diets were tested, two imported floating feed (Diets 1 and 4), one locally manufactured floating feed (Diet 5) and two on farm formulated floating feeds (Diets 2 and 3), each adjusted to 32% crude protein. Fish (initial mean weight: 8.45 ± 0.25g) were stocked at 25 fingerlings per hapa and fed twice daily at 3% body weight for 12 weeks, using a completely randomized design with three replicates per treatment. After 12 weeks, final mean weights were 21.608 ± 1.062g (Diet 1), 23.697 ± 1.347g (Diet 2), 26.225±1.413g (Diet 3), 25.970±1.959g (Diet 4), and 27.592±0.361g (Diet 5). There was a significant difference (P= 0.026) in final weights, with Diet 5 (locally manufactured floating feed) outperforming Diet 1 (imported floating feed). However, other growth parameters including mean weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), average daily weight gain, apparent feed conversion ratio (AFCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) showed no significant differences (P> 0.05) among treatments. Survival rate was 100% across all treatments. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) differed significantly among diets. Protein digestibility ranged from 78.33% (Diet 1) to 85.50% (Diet 5), with Diet 5 showing the highest value (P< 0.001). Fat digestibility followed a similar trend, the highest in Diet 5 (90.17%) and lowest in Diet 1 (83.30%). Fiber and ash digestibility were also significantly higher in diets 3 and 5 compared to the other treatments (P< 0.05). Water quality parameters remained within optimal ranges for O. shiranus culture and did not differ significantly across treatments (P> 0.05). In conclusion, the locally manufactured floating feed (Diet 5) demonstrated superior growth and nutrient digestibility compared to imported and on-farm formulated diets. It is recommended that smaller holder farmers use the locally manufactured floating feeds to optimize biological performance in O. shiranus fingerlings.

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