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ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #229727
Title: Performance characteristics of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis Niloticus fed diets containing graded levels of distillers dried grains with solubles

Author
item SCHAEFFER, T - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV
item BROWN, M - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV
item Rosentrater, Kurt
item MUTHUKUMARAPPAN, M - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Journal of Aquaculture Feed Science and Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/19/2010
Publication Date: 6/1/2010
Citation: Schaeffer, T., Brown, M.L., Rosentrater, K.A., Muthukumarappan, M. 2010. Performance characteristics of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis Niloticus fed diets containing graded levels of distillers dried grains with solubles. Journal of Aquaculture Feed Science and Nutrition. 1(4):78-83

Interpretive Summary: Distillers dried grains with solubles (also known as DDGS) is a potential protein source for aquaculture feeds, but much work remains in order to use this ingredient effectively. Two feeding trials were performed to investigate levels of dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS) as a supplemental protein source for juvenile Nile tilapia. In trial 1, three experimental diets were formulated to contain 20, 30, and 40% DDGS and compared against a commercial reference diet containing fishmeal (0% DDGS). In trial 2, six experimental diets were formulated to contain 0 (fishmeal, control), 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25, and 27.5% DDGS. Glass aquaria (132-L) were connected in parallel to a recirculating culture system, and stocked with seven Nile tilapia with four replicate aquaria per diet. No statistical differences occurred in performance measures between experimental and reference diets in trial 1. Among experimental diets, 20% DDGS had the best relative weight gain (WG), food conversion ratio (FCR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) values of 66.5 ± 10.3%, 2.88 ± 0.39, and 1.31 ± 0.16, respectively. No statistical differences occurred in performance measures among experimental diets in trial 2 except for PER values between 17.5% and 22.5% DDGS diets; WG and PER were significant between experimental and control diets. Among experimental diets, 17.5% DDGS had the best WG, FCR, and PER values of 74.6 ± 10.0%, 2.76 ± 0.37, and 1.18 ± 0.13, respectively. Although DDGS can be incorporated at levels up to 40%, 17.5% DDGS promoted the best growth performance. Even though this study has provided information about use of DDGS as a feed ingredient, work still remains in order to optimize aquafeeds from this protein source.

Technical Abstract: Two feeding trials were performed to investigate levels of dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS) as a supplemental protein source for juvenile Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. In trial 1, three isocaloric (2.32 ± 0.09 kcal/g SE), isonitrogenous (28.03 ± 0.03% protein) experimental diets were formulated to contain 20, 30, and 40% DDGS and compared against a commercial reference diet containing fishmeal. In trial 2, six isocaloric (4.43 ± 2.04 kcal/g), isonitrogenous (39.3 ± 0.4% protein) experimental diets were formulated to contain 0 (fishmeal, control), 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25, and 27.5% DDGS. Glass aquaria (132-L) were connected in parallel to a recirculating culture system, and stocked with seven Nile tilapia (trial 1 mean initial weight = 6.7 g; trial 2 mean initial weight = 34.9 g) with four replicate aquaria per diet. No statistical differences (P > 0.05) occurred in performance measures between experimental and reference diets in trial 1. Among experimental diets, 20% DDGS had the best relative weight gain (WG), food conversion ratio (FCR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) values of 66.5 ± 10.3%, 2.88 ± 0.39, and 1.31 ± 0.16, respectively. No statistical differences occurred in performance measures among experimental diets in trial 2 except for PER values between 17.5% and 22.5% DDGS diets; also, WG and PER were significant between experimental and control diets. Among experimental diets, 17.5% DDGS had the best WG, FCR, and PER values of 74.6 ± 10.0%, 2.76 ± 0.37, and 1.18 ± 0.13, respectively. Although DDGS can be incorporated at levels up to 40%, 17.5% DDGS promoted the best growth performance. Therefore, the use of diets containing 17.5% DDGS may offset the higher costs of a fishmeal-based diet provided that adequate growth is achieved during the production period.