Effect of Diets Containing Various Levels of Protein and Ethanol Coproducts from Corn on Growth of Tilapia Fry

Abstract

Experimental diets containing 32−40% protein and 16−49% corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed, or corn distillers' grains with solubles were fed to tilapia with 0.4 g initial weight for 8 weeks in aquaria. Weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio for experimental and control diets were in the range of 3270−5320%, 1.06−1.38, and 1.87−2.37, respectively. Statistically, the highest weight gain was achieved from control diet and a 40% protein diet with 35% corn distillers' grains with solubles; the best feed conversion ratio was obtained from control diet and two 40% protein diets with 35% corn distillers' grains with solubles or 30% corn gluten feed; the highest protein efficiency ratio was from control diet and two 36% protein diets with 49% corn distillers' grains with solubles or 42% corn gluten feed. Keywords: Tilapia; corn gluten meal; corn gluten feed; corn distillers' grains with solubles