PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF NILE TILAPIA Oreochromis niloticus FED DIET WITH REGULAR AND PHYTASE-TREATED CORN-DISTILLER'S DRIED GRAIN WITH SOLUBLES (DDGS) FOLLOWING AMMONIA STRESS

Isagani P. Angeles Jr.* Joden G. Quinto, Wilbur F. Dubon,
 and Yew-Hu Chien
 
 
 Provincial Institute of Fisheries
 Isabela State University-Roxas Campus
 Roxas, Isabela, Philippines 3309
 ipangelesjr_15@yahoo.com

This study was conducted to determine the effect of regular distiller's dried grain with solubles (R-DDGS) and phytase-treated DDGS (PT-DDGS) on growth, hematology, and survival of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus under normal and stress condition. The fish were fed diets with 150 g kg-1 R-DDGS (R150), 300 g kg-1 R-DDGS (R300), 150 g kg-1 PT-DDGS (P150) or 300 g kg-1 PT-DDGS (P300) for 6 weeks, while a commercial diet served as the control (C).

Growth and survival were monitored periodically. After rearing, fish were exposed to ammonia stress for one week. Blood sampling was conducted after rearing, one day and seven days after ammonia stress test to evaluate the hematological parameters. WG and SGR of fish fed diet with P150 and R300 were significantly higher than the C. In addition, WG of fish fed diet with R150, R300, P150 and P300 increased by 11, 26, 41 and 22% as compared to the C, respectively. After rearing, the RBC of R150 was higher than the C; while HCT of R150 and P300 were higher than the C but comparable to R300 and P150. On the other hand, WBC, HGB and HCT of fish fed diet with DDGS were significantly higher compared to the C; while RBC of R150 and R300 were 254 and 204% higher than the C but comparable to P150 and P300 after ammonia stress.

Overall, DDGS improved growth performance and exhibited favorable hematological parameters of fish under normal and ammonia stress-condition.