Incorporating fodder beet Beta vulgaris cv. Majoral in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) diet

Four approximately isoenergetic isonitrogenous diets containing 0, 150, 300 and 510 g kg-1 fodder beet as a replacement for dietary corn in Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus) fingerling commercial feed were fed to triplicate groups (15 fish each) of fingerlings (2.46 g) for 9 weeks in a re-circulating system. Fish were fed three times a day to satiation. Tilapia weight gain, feed conversion, specific growth rate and protein efficiency ratio were similar in fish fed diets containing 0 (control), 150 and 300 g kg-1 fodder beet (P 0.05). Proximate carcass composition was affected (P 0.05) by replacing dietary corn with fodder beet. As the level of fodder beet increased, fish body moisture was increased and fat reduced. Further increase in fodder beet inclusion to 510 g kg-1 had a negative effect on fish growth performance. In conclusion, replacing corn with fodder beet in tilapia feed up to 300 g kg-1 would produce growth parameters similar to those fed corn (control groups)