Profitability of Using Commercial Tilapia Feed to Produce Three Different Sizes of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) Fingerlings in Ghana

Aims: To determine the profitability of using a commercial tilapia feed to produce three different size ranges (1.0-1.9, 2.0-2.9 and 5.0-5.9 g) of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings in hapa-in-pond system.

Study Design: Completely randomized design.

Place and Duration of Study: The Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (ARDEC), Akosombo, of Water Research Institute (WRI) of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ghana, from March to May, 2020.

Methodology: Fish growth study was carried out in three (3) fine mesh netting hapas, each of dimensions 5.0 x 2.0 x 1.2 m. Nile tilapia fry at initial mean weight 0.03 ± 0.01 g were stocked at a density of 50 fish m-2 and they were fed at 20 % body weight five times daily. The feeding of the fish continued until those in all the 3 hapas attained a mean weight of at least 5.0 g. Then the experiment was terminated and all the survived fish in each hapa were harvested, counted, and their individual body weights were measured. Growth performance indicators and profitability of producing the various size categories (1.0-1.9, 2.0-2.9 and 5.0-5.9) were determined.

Results: The fry attained the target size ranges of 1.0-1.9, 2.0-2.9 and 5.0-5.9 g in 4, 6 and 9 weeks respectively. There were significant differences (ANOVA, P = 0.03) among final mean weights, weight gains, feed intakes, daily weight gains, feed efficiencies and harvested biomass among all size ranges, with those of 5.0-5.9 g being significantly higher (Tukey’s HSDT, P < 0.02). Sizes of fingerlings produced correlate positively with cost of feed used. The profit indices ranged from 2.57 to 10.22, with the highest recorded in the 1.0-1.9 g fingerlings and the least in those of 5.0-5.9 g.

Conclusion: The results indicated that, at the current Nile tilapia fingerlings cost and the time taken to produce the various size categories, the 1.0-1.9 g production is the most profitable.