Author(s): Jemuel S Doctolero and Rodora M Bartolome

Abstract: Reduced feed cost is very much desired in aquaculture and usually this is done by reducing the level or substituting expensive feed ingredients with cheaper ones without detrimental effects on the growth and/or health of the animal. Moringa oleifera is one of the well-studied plants that contains necessary nutrients and have a great function in providing health and medicinal benefits. Concern relating to biosecurity and food safety have enhance the consumers awareness in health concerns related to chemical contaminants and this alter the consumer eating patterns and has stimulated production of organically-raised foods. The study was conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of formulated diet with M. oleifera leafmeal and determine the optimum dietary level of M. oleifera that would provide better growth and survival to red Nile tilapia. The treatments evaluated were incorporation of 0, 10%, 15% and 20% levels of M. oleifera leafmeal on the diet of red Nile tilapia. Proximate analysis revealed that experimental diets contained levels of crude protein ranging from 29.84% to 31.63%. Results of the study showed that fish fed with diets containing M. oleifera leaf meal resulted in comparable growth and survival with those fed the control diet. Fish fed with experimental diet of 20% M. oleifera performed better than those fed with diets containing 10% and 15% M. oleifera leaf meal. The study concluded that M. oleifera can potentially use as an alternative protein-source feed ingredient. Further, inclusion of up to 20% M. oleifera in the diet of red Nile tilapia can provide acceptable growth performance.

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