Impact of replacement of soybean meal with guar korma meal on growth performance and some physiological parameters of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings

This study aimed to evaluate the partial and complete substitution of soybean meal as crude protein by various levels (0%, 25%, 5٠% , 75% and 100%) of guar korma meal (GKM) (Cyamopsis tetragonolobus) in the Tilapia diet on growth performance, feed utilization, carcass composition and physiological parameters (ALT, AST and glucose level). Water quality parameters were checked and evaluated on a daily basis and the other factors were analyzed fortnightly of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Five isonitrogenous (30% crude protein) and isocaloric (4300 kcal/kg gross energy) diets were formulated to contain guar korma meal at 0 , 9.5 , 18.5, 27.75 and 37 % crude protein levels by replacing soybean meal at 0 , 25, 50, 75 and 100% crude protein, respectively. An experimental diet containing 37 % soybean meal and 0% guar meal protein was used as a control diet. All fish were fed at 5 % body weight / day in three replicates. Results of the present study concluded that guar korma meal is a promising ingredient source of protein in aqua feeds and can be included up to 18.5 % crude protein by replacing 50% of soybean meal crude protein during feed formulation for the Nile Tilapia (O. niloticus) diets system without affecting the growth performance and feed utilization.