Valorization of two sources of maggots in the diet of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

In order to improve the production of Nile tilapia using an economical feed based on black soldier fly maggot flour, a growth performance test was carried out at the Donomade Model Farm over a period of 3 months. In total, 360 Nile tilapia fry with an average weight of 2.41±0.27 g were distributed in 12 hapas of 1m 3 placed in a 100 m² pond at a rate of 30 fish per hapa. They were subjected to four isoprotein diets at 30% crude protein in triplicate. This is A1, a control food without maggot flour; A2, a diet with 15% maggot flour from palm kernel cake; A3, a diet with 15% maggot meal from poultry droppings and AC, a commercial feed (Raanan). Each batch of fish was fed 3 times per day at a rate of 15% to 8% of its biomass from the first to the fourth month of the test. For the total duration of the trial, the survival rate varied from 70.0±3.92% to 84.4±3.20% for batches A1 and A2 respectively. The growth performance of fish was significantly affected by the different diets. The commercial feed gave the best results but the best performance with local feed was obtained in lot A3; i.e., a Daily Weight Gain (DWG) of 0.66±0.04 g/d and a feed efficiency of 2.48±0.14. The economic analysis reveals a positive gross profit margin (1395 CFA francs) for A3 and negative for the other treatments. It appears from this study that the diet A3 seems to present the best quality/price compromise.