AN INITIAL EVALUATION OF CAMEL AND COW MANURES AS DIETARY INGREDIENTS IN PELLETED FEED FOR BLUE TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS-AUREUS)

Camel and cow manures were evaluated as dietary components in pelleted feed for male tilapia over a 12 week period. Seven isonitrogenous (35% crude protein) and isocaloric (4.00 kcal/g gross energy) diets were prepared. Each manure was included in the diets at 10, 20 and 30%. A control diet containing neither of the two manures was used. The best survival rate, growth performance and feed utilization efficiency values were achieved by the control diet. Diets containing 10 or 20% camel manure or 10% cow manure gave relatively good results. Higher inclusions of the two manures significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed growth. It is recommended that camel and cow manures could be included in pelleted feeds of tilapia at levels of up to 20 and 10% respectively.