Abstract

Musca domestica maggots were produced from poultry dung for five weeks, and its meal utilized as a replacement for fishmeal in the diet of the fingerlings of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. The maggots were cultured in four different enclosures: aluminium mobile maggotry, aluminium, plastic and wooden boxes. They were harvested at the end of the culture period, processed by oven-drying, and grinding into powdery form as maggot meal. The produced maggot meal was used to replace fishmeal in eight compounded isonitrogenous diets at levels of 0% (Control diet), 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80%. The diets were fed to O. niloticus fingerlings to determine the effects of maggot meal in comparison with fishmeal on the growth, nutrient utilization and survival of the fingerlings. The feeding experiment was carried out in 40 L plastic tank in triplicates, with 20 Nile tilapia fingerlings per tank. The fingerlings were fed 5% of their body weight on a daily ration for 10 weeks. Aluminium culture box was best for maggot production with the highest weight, and the most cost-effective. Highest mean weight gain, relative growth rate and specific growth rate was in fingerlings fed 50% maggot meal diet, and lowest in the control diet. Food conversion ratio was lowest in fish fed 60% maggot meal diet, and highest in fish fed the control diet. The protein efficiency ratio was highest in fish fed 60% maggot meal diet, and lowest in fish fed the control diet. Survival was higher, 100% in fish fed maggot meal-based diets, and lower, 95% in fish fed the control diet. These results indicate that replacement of fishmeal with maggot meal at 50 to 60% inclusion level is suitable for optimal growth performance, nutrient utilization and survival in O. niloticus fingerlings.

Key words: Maggot meal, feeding trial, cost-effectiveness, nutrient utilization, growth rate.