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Effects of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal on juvenile red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis sp.)

Farahiyah, I.J.* and Nor Maisarah R.

Livestock Science Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research & Development Institute (MARDI), Persiaran MARDI-UPM, 43400, Serdang, Selangor

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2020 23(2): 20-28

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The effects of moringa leaf meal inclusion were investigated on growth performance, feed
utilization and body composition of juvenile red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis sp.). Feeding trial
was conducted for 12 weeks in a completely randomized design with five replications (3
treatments � 5 replicates � 30 fish per tanks). The fishes weighed �31g were fed with
isonitrogenous (32%CP) and isocaloric (13MJ/kg) diets containing moringa meal at the inclusion
of 0%, 10% and 15%. The results showed that, during 12 weeks trial, there was no significant
difference (p>0.05) observed on growth performance among treatments despite numerical
increase in body weight ranged between 93.84 to 104.41 g. Meanwhile, it was found that the feed
utilization was significantly affected by the feed given. The feed utilization of 10% moringa leaf
meal was not significantly different to the control. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) recorded for
the control, 10% and 15% of moringa leaf meal inclusion were 1.33�0.12, 1.44�0.13 and
1.75�0.15, respectively. The body composition also was not significantly different among
treatments (p>0.05). The protein content of fish muscle ranged between 74.39�4.14 and
81.66�4.58%. In conclusion, moringa leaf meal could be incorporated in juvenile red hybrid
tilapia diet with an optimum of 10% inclusion without any adverse effect on growth performance,
feed utilization and body composition.