Farelo de palma forrageira,variedade miúda, em dietas para tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus).

Abstract

The tilapia has a fast growth, an adequate performance in diverse production systems and omnivorous alimentary habit that facilitates the acceptance of different types of rations. The inclusion of alternative foods, such as palm meal (FP), may be a way to make feasible the use of regional ingredients that are available to growers throughout the year, with great potential in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The objective of the study was to evaluate the best level of inclusion of forage FP in diets extruded for Nile tilapia. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia (UFRB - Cruz das Almas), at the Fish Nutrition and Behavior Laboratory of Fish, with a duration of 60 experimental days. A closed water recirculation system was used with 24 310 L tanks and 10 fish per tank. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design with a control diet and five experimental diets with four replicates. Physical and chemical variables of water, temperature, pH, ammonia and OD were monitored throughout the experimental period. Experimental diets were the treatments, where the tested levels of PF inclusion were: 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20%. Performance parameters, blood parameters, carcass composition parameters and intestinal amylase activity were evaluated. For the statistical analysis the data were submitted to analysis of variance, polynomial regression and a linear response plateau analysis was performed through the Linear Response Plateau system, with significance of 5% (P <0.05). Significant differences (P <0.05) were observed for total food intake, PF, GP, BF, GB, CA, MM, and EB of the carcasses and for the LDL and HDL blood parameters. According to the parameters evaluated, the PF can be included in diets for tilapia up to the level of 8% without impairment in their performance.