Utilization of jack bean flour Canavalia ensiformis as feed ingredient for tilapia Oreochromis sp.

Abstract

The local plant jack bean has a high nutrient content, but this plant is still underutilized. The high protein and carbohydrate content in this plant can be potentially utilized as raw material for fish feed. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the utilization of unpeeled jack bean flour as a feed ingredient on the growth of tilapia (Oreochromis sp.). The study consisted of four treatments with three replications using a completely randomized design, namely TK0 (amount of jack bean flour 0%), TK5 (amount of jack bean flour 5%), TK15 (amount of jack bean flour 15%), and TK25 (amount of jack bean flour 25%) added to the feed formulation. Tilapia of 15 fish were kept in an aquarium measuring 50×50×40 cm³ for 60 days and fed three times a day until apparent satiation. The results showed that treatments with inclusions of jack bean flour in feed had a significantly lower growth performance, feed intake, and intestine morphometrics compared to control treatment (P<0.05). There is no significant difference between TK5 and control on feed conversion ratio, protein retention, and survival rate. However, higher inclusion of jack bean flour (TK15 & TK25) demonstrates significantly lower value of those parameters compared to control treatment.

Keywords: feed formulation, growth, jack bean, Nile tilapia