Growth and economic performance of fingerlings of Oreochromis niloticus fed on different non-conventional feeds in out-door hapas at Akosombo in Ghana

The study was conducted at the Aquaculture Research and Development Centre at Akosombo in Ghana to observe the growth and economic performance of the fingerlings of Oreochromis niloticus fed on diets prepared using different agro-industrial by-products. Four isonitrogenous (30% CP) and isoenergetic (GE 18 MJ/kg) diets were formulated: Wheat bran (WB) (Diet 1); Pito mash (PM) (Diet 2); Rice bran (RB) (diet 3); and groundnut bran (GB) (Diet 4). They were fed to fingerlings of O. niloticus of average weight 7.0 ± 0.23 g stocked at 20 fish m-3 in out-door hapas for a period of 24 weeks. The study revealed that fish which were fed on Diet 1 grew significantly (P < 0.05) faster than those fed on the other diets. Fish growth was least on those fed on Diet 4. The incidence cost (IC) was highest (P < 0.05) in fish fed Diet 4 and lowest (P < 0.05) for fish fed Diet 2. The profit index was highest (P < 0.05) for fish fed diet 2 and lowest (P < 0.05) for fish fed Diet 2. O. niloticus fingerlings fed WB based diet produced the fastest growth while fingerlings fed PM based diet was the most cost-effective diet.   Key words: Growth, economic, performance, fingerlings, Oreochromis niloticus, non conventional feeds, Akosombo Ghana.