A study of the growth, feed conversion and mortality rate of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): A case study of Craig Farm in Mashonaland Central Province. · Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Author

Vimbiso Rukombo

Title

A study of the growth, feed conversion and mortality rate of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): A case study of Craig Farm in Mashonaland Central Province.

Abstract

This research was designed to investigate growth rate and feed conversion ratio as they are important factors in the cultivation of Nile tilapia. A total of 4 earthen fish ponds were selected based on their high yields recorded during the previous harvesting each pond containing 10 000 fingerlings. The study was carried out at Craig Site fish farm in Mashonaland Central province in Zimbabwe. During the experiment, fingerlings were stocked in ponds at a density of 12 fish per square meter and they were fed three times a day at the rate of 10% of their body weight for 6 month. The initial average weight body of Nile tilapia was 7.9grams and the growth rate was measured by monitoring their weight gain after every 2 weeks. The experiment was carried out at an open space where there was no blockage of sunlight. The temperature was maintained at 25 to 26 0C, pH at 6.8 and oxygen above 5 mg l-1. The experiment was carried out with duration at six months. Feed conversion ratio was determined by calculating the amount of feed required to produce 1 kilogram of fish in each pond. Mortality rate was calculated as the percentage of fish that died during the cultivating period. The fish obtained the average weight of 313 to 390 grams in 6 months. There is almost 99% survival rate of tilapia fish. Pond 3 and 4 had 100% survival rate as compared to ponds 1, 2 and 3 and the mortality rate was very low. There was no difference in survival rate of the fish as the table 4.2 shows that 3 and 4 had highest survival rate of 100% in the sixth month and pond 1 and 2 had 99. 9%.Total quantity of fish harvested was 99% in the 4 ponds with average production of 15 kilograms per square meter. Feed conversion efficiency mean obtained in the final month was 0.0676. The FCR ranged from 2.9 to 9.9 in all ponds during the first month. These high figures were as a result of the Tilapia not consuming much of the food since they were at juvenile stage. Pond 4 has the highest FCR of 9.943. FCR was in a constant increase in all the ponds from 1 to 4. FCR ranged from 0.279 to 0.924 during the whole year.

Date

June 2023

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Craig Farm

Growth

Feed

Supervisor

Mr Mhlanga