Evaluation of nutritional quality of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves as an alternative protein source for tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.).

Publikations-Art

Zeitschriftenbeitrag

Autoren

Richter, N., Siddhuraju, P., and Becker, K.

Erscheinungsjahr

2003

Veröffentlicht in

Aquaculture

Band/Volume

217/

Seite (von - bis)

599-611

This study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of freeze-dried moringa leaf meal, Moringa oleifera, as an alternative protein source for Nile tilapia. Three experimental diets were formulated to contain moringa leaf meal at levels of 10%, 20% and 30% of the total dietary protein (Diets 2, 3 and 4, respectively) and one diet acting as a control (Diet 1) which included only fish meal and wheat meal as protein sources. All diets were isonitrogenous (35% crude protein) and isoenergetic (20 kJ g⁻¹). A 7-week feeding trial was carried out on triplicate groups of seven fish (9–11 g) in 45-l aquaria connected to a recirculating system. The daily fish ration was calculated at 15-g feed per metabolic body weight (kg^0.8) per day (about five times maintenance). No feed-related mortality was observed during the whole experimental period. Diets with higher inclusion levels of moringa leaves (Diets 3 and 4) significantly depressed growth performance of the fish (SGR: 2.0% in both groups) compared to Diets 1 and 2 (SGR: 2.7% and 2.4%, respectively). The relatively high total phenolics (0.7% and 1%), nonhaemolytic saponin (1.5% and 2.3%) and phytic acid (0.5% and 0.8%) in Diets 3 and 4, respectively, as well as NDF (3.8% and 5.7%) and ADF (3.0% and 4.5%) in the aforementioned diets may have contributed to the poorer growth performance in these groups. These results suggest that moringa leaf meal can be used to substitute up to 10% of dietary protein in Nile tilapia without significant reduction in growth.