Funda Turan*
Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Mustafa Kemal, 31040 Antakya, Hatay, Turkey (Received 22.11.05, Accepted 10.12.05)
The Israeli Journal of Aquaculture – Bamidgeh, 2006.
Key words: growth, Oreochromis aureus, red clover, tilapia, Trifolium pratense
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of red clover on growth, body composition, and survival of tilapia, Oreochromis aureus. Three concentrations of dietary red clover (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) were tested for 90 days. The growth rate was significantly better in fish fed 100 mg red clover/kg feed than in the control that contained no red clover (p<0.01). The specific growth rate ranged from 3.79±0.10 in the 200 mg/kg red clover treatment to 4.41±0.05 in the 100 mg/kg treatment. The food conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, and apparent net protein utilization were significantly highest in groups fed the 100 mg red clover/kg diet (p<0.01). Survival in groups fed red clover did not differ from that of the control. The highest protein content (19.74%) was obtained in the 100 mg/kg group and it was significantly higher than in all other groups (p<0.05). Moisture and ash contents did not differ among treatments. Lipid content was not significantly affected by red clover dosage. The findings of the present study suggest that 100 mg red clover/kg feed improves the growth rate and feed utilization of tilapia.
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