Reproductive performance and growth of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) broodstock fed diets containing Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal

Abstract

The effects of dietary leucaena leaf meal on reproductive performance and growth of Nile tilapia were determined. In the preliminary trial, sexually mature Nile tilapia were fed with a control diet or a test diet which had leucaena leaf meal as the only protein source for 24 weeks. Fish fed with the leucaena diet lost some weight and had significantly low (P<0.05) gonadosomatic index and fry production compared to those fed with the control diet. Subsequently, four isonitrogenous diets (20% crude protein) containing varying amounts of leucaena leaf meal (0, 20, 40 and 80%) were fed to Nile tilapia broodstock. Mean weight gain of the female fish decreased as the level of leucaena leaf meal in the diets increased. Females fed with the 80% leucaena diet invariably lost weight. Mean weight gain of males fed with the control diet and the 20 and 40% leucaena diets did not differ significantly (P>0.05). However, growth of males fed with the 80% leucaena diet was remarkably low. Fry production was highest for those fed with the control diet and the 20% leucaena diet. Fry production decreased slightly in fish fed with the 40% leucaena diet and was significantly low (P<0.05) for those fed with the 80% leucaena diet. The low fry production was preceded by a decrease in body weight of the female fish. However, the gonadosomatic indices of the females and the males were not markedly affected by the diets. On the basis of both fry production and growth, leucaena leaf meal should not exceed 40% of the diet of Nile tilapia broodstock.