Show simple item record

dc.contributor.authorLokuruka, MNI
dc.contributor.authorMuteti, MK
dc.contributor.authorYasindi, AW
dc.date.accessioned2020-10-08T09:34:46Z
dc.date.available2020-10-08T09:34:46Z
dc.date.issued2020-07
dc.identifier.citationAfr. J. Food Agric. Nutr. Dev. 2020; 20(4): 16127-16143en_US
dc.identifier.issn16127-16143
dc.identifier.urihttps://karuspace.karu.ac.ke/handle/20.500.12092/2424
dc.descriptiondoi.org/10.18697/ajfand.92.18085en_US
dc.description.abstractDue to the high costs and the unavailability of good quality fish feeds in Kenya, farmers have opted to use cheaper, locally available on-farm formulated feeds. In spite of this, farmers continue to incur losses probably due to poor nutritive quality of these on-farm feeds. Furthermore, literature on the proximate composition and appropriateness of onfarm formulated feeds for raising farmed fish in Kenya is scanty. Motivated by these reasons, this study sought to investigate the proximate composition of on-farm formulated Nile tilapia feeds and selected commercial fish feeds used in Bomet, Kericho and Nakuru Counties of the Rift Valley Region of Kenya and compared the proximate composition with the official nutrient composition of fish feeds. The method of feed formulation used was also investigated using semi-structured questionnaires. The study also estimated the weight of fish harvested at the end of a production cycle. The results revealed a significant difference between the sampled feeds’ moisture, crude protein and mineral contents and the legislated nutrient levels of the commercial feeds commonly used in the counties. There was also a significant difference between the crude protein content of feeds in the three counties (P < 0.05). More than 50% of respondent farmers in the three counties used Pearson Square Method for fish feed formulation, while the rest used the trial and error method. The mean weight of fish during harvest was 311.5±155.8 g with fish from Kericho County weighing significantly lower than those from Nakuru and Bomet Counties (P < 0.05). Most of the on-farm formulated feeds from the three counties do not meet the recommended nutrient requirements for raising Nile Tilapia. This may be contributing to the observed low weights of the fish harvested, the low fish production and the apparent stagnation of the aquaculture sub-sector in Kenya. The study recommends the formulation of good quality fish feeds through the use of proper methods and appropriate ingredients. This could be achieved through monthly farmers’ trainings on best aquaculture practices.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherAjfanden_US
dc.subjectOn- farm formulated feedsen_US
dc.subjectfish feed qualityen_US
dc.subjectNutrientsen_US
dc.subjectNile tilapiaen_US
dc.subjectKenyaen_US
dc.titleNutrient Content of On-farm Formulated Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Feeds: Implications for the Aquaculture Industry in Kenyaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US


Files in this item

Thumbnail

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record