Use of Local Agro-food By-products in Feeding of Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) Fry

New sources of carbohydrates obtained from local agro-food by-products were tested in the diet of Oreochromis niloticus fry. Five (5) iso-protein (40%) and iso-energy 17 kJ/g feeds were composed with stale bread flour (SB), cassava peelings (CP), cassava chips (CC), cassava couscous made with fermented and steamed cassava (Attiéké) dried (AD), and corn flour dust (CFD). A commercial Rahanan fish feed with 40% protein was used as a control. The feeding tests were carried out in an aquarium containing 50 liters of water with Oreochromis niloticus fry weighing 4.37±0.87 g at a density of one fish per liter for 21 days. The effects of the feeds on growth, survival, and costs were calculated. At the end of the experiment, the survival rate ranged from 98% to 100%. The control commercial feed resulted in the highest growth in Oreochromis niloticus fry compared to the compound feeds. The daily weight gain values were 0.53±0.01 g/d (control), 0.42±0.01 g/d (SB), 0.42±0.012 g/d (CP), 0.39±0.005 g/d (AD), 0.36±0.005 g/d (CFD), and 0.35±0.004 g/d (CC). The SB, CP, and AD compound feeds provided better growth in Oreochromis niloticus fry compared to CFD and CC feeds. Using compound feeds made from flours of local agro-food by-products reduces the feeding cost for Oreochromis niloticus fry by half compared to the imported extruded, granulated, floating control feed. These results confirm that flours from stale bread, cassava peelings, and cassava couscous (dry Attiéké) can serve as sources of carbohydrates in the diet of Oreochromis niloticus fry.