Growth Performance, Fatty Acid Profile, And Lipid Composition of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) Fed Diets with Graded Levels of Groundnut Meal

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of substituting fish meal with groundnut meal on the growth perfor- mance, fatty acid composition, and lipid profile of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings. Diets contain- ing varying levels of groundnut meal (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%), each replicated three times over 84 days, were evaluated. The highest mean weight gain (8.00 ± 1.68 g) was observed at 100% replacement, while the lowest (4.19 ± 0.89 g) occurred at 40% inclusion. Protein intake was highest in the 20% group (9.67 ± 0.08 g) and lowest in the 100% group (5.85 ± 0.05 g). Sixteen fatty acids were detected, notably high levels of palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and arachidonic acid. Saturation indices peaked at 20–40% groundnut inclusion. The control and 20% treatments recorded the highest triglyceride levels, whereas cholesterol levels were highest at 100% inclusion. Overall, diets containing 20% groundnut meal appear optimal for tilapia growth while offering a promising alternative to fish meal.