ARS | Publication request: GROWTH RESPONSE AND RESISTANCE TO STREPTOCOCCUS INIAE OF NILE TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) FED DIETS CONTAINING DISTILLER'S DRIED GRAINS WITH SOLUBLES

Submitted to: International Symposium on Talipia in Aquaculture
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 12, 2006
Publication Date: September 6, 2006
Citation: Lim, C.E., Garcia, J.C., Aksoy, M., Klesius, P.H., Shoemaker, C.A., Evans, J.J. 2006. Growth response and resistance to Streptococcus iniae of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed diets containing distiller's dried grains with solubles. 7th International Symposium on Tilapia in Aquaculture. Talk/Abstract. September 6-8, 2006. Veracruz, Mexico. p. 49.

Technical Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary levels of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on growth performance, body composition, hematology, immune response and resistance of Nile tilapia to Streptococcus iniae challenge. Five isocaloric diets containing DDGS at levels of 0, 10, 20 and 40%, and 40% DDGS + lysine (diet 1 to 5) as partial replacements of a combination of soybean meal (SBM) and corn meal on an equal protein basis were fed to juvenile Nile tilapia (9.41 ± 0.14 g) in four replicate aquaria twice daily to apparent satiation for 10 weeks. Results showed that of fish fed diet 4 had significantly lower (P<0.05) weight gain than those fed diets 1, 2 and 3, but did not differ from fish fed diet 5. Weight gain of fish fed diet 5 was significantly lower than that of fish fed diet 2 but was not different from those fed other diets. No significant differences were found in feed consumption and survival of fish in various treatments. Feed efficiency of diet 4 was significantly lower than that of diet 1 but was not different from those of other diets. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) of diet 4 was significantly lower than those of diets 1, 2 and 3 but did not differ from that of diet 5. PER of diet 5 was significantly lower than that of diet 1 but did not differ for those of other diets. No significant differences were observed among whole body moisture, lipid and ash. Fish fed diet 4 had significantly lower body protein than the group fed diet 1 but did not differ from those fed other diets. Red and white blood cell counts and hematocrit did not differ among treatments. Plasma protein, lysozyme and post-challenge agglutinating antibody titers against S. iniae were not affected by dietary treatments. Likewise, there were no significant differences among the average number of days to first mortality after S. iniae challenge and cumulative mortality 14 days post-challenge among fish in various treatments. DDGS can be incorporated in tilapia diet at a level of 20% as a substitute for a combination of SBM and corn meal without affecting their growth performance, body composition, hematological parameters, immune response and resistance to S. iniae infection.