<b>Growth performance of Nile tilapia fed graded choline levels in the diet</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v32i2.8862

Abstract

A 109-day feeding trial was undertaken aiming to evaluate the growth performance of Nile tilapia fed graded choline levels. One hundred and ninety-two (initial weight 4.0 ± 0.15 g) fingerlings were distributed into 32 net cages (200 L each), four cages per treatment and six fish per cage, placed in eight 1000L aquaria in a closed recirculation system. The treatments were assigned to the tanks comprising eight treatments and four replications arranged in a completely randomized experimental design. Diets were supplemented with choline chloride to provide 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200 mg of choline per kg of feed and an unsupplemented diet. No significant differences were observed in growth performance, survival, apparent feed conversion, liver and fillet ether extract, hepatosomatic index and plasma lipid concentration, among treatments. Choline levels did not improve growth performance, possibly because the amount of choline in the diet had already met fish requirement.