Water Spinach

Journal of Aquatic Science and Marine Biology Volume 2, Issue 4, 2019, PP 13-20 ISSN 2638-5481 Effect of Replacing Fishmeal with Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) on Growth, Feed Conversion and Carcass Composition for Nile Tilapia Fry (Oreochromis niloticus) Ramzy A. Yousif *1, Obied J. Abdullah1, Ahmed M. Ahmed1, Mohammed I. Adam1, Fawzi A. Mohamed Ahmed1 and Omer A. Idam2 1 Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan 2 Department of Fish Production and Technology, Faculty of Animal Production *Corresponding Author: Yousif R. A Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology, E-mail: [email protected] /[email protected] ABSTRACT The use of alternative feeds aims to maintain productivity and reduce animal production costs. The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional value of Water Spinach (WS) (Ipomoea aquatica), as well as replacement of fishmeal (FM) by water spinach in diets for Nile tilapia fry, Oreochromis niloticus. To determine the growth performance of Nile tilapia fed different levels of water spinach, 150 fish (3.25±0.44g; 3.6±0.2cm) were randomly distributed in flow through system of 15 plastic aquariums each containing about 20 liters, and fed during 7 weeks with isoprotein (30% digestible protein) and isoenergetic (14.35 kJ g-1 digestible energy) diets containing replacement levels of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of FM digestible protein by WS digestible protein. The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments and three replicates. The protein efficiency ratio, absolute body weight, live weight gain and feed conversion ratio content significantly decreased in fish fed diets containing WS levels above 25%. Therefore, WS can replace up to 25% of FM without impairing juvenile Nile tilapia growth performance, feed efficiency, and body composition. Keywords: Growth performance, Replacement, Water Spinach, Orechromis niloticus. INTRODUCTION Tilapia is one of the most popular aquaculture species and is farmed in more than 120 countries and territories. However, global tilapia aquaculture production is highly imbalanced, with the top ten countries in 2015 accounting for over 90 percent of the 5.7 million tonnes of global production (FAO, 2018). Tilapia is second most important cultured finfish worldwide and farmed globally by many small holders. Nile tilapia (Oreochromisniloticus) ranks 6th among the most important cultured species, providing food, jobs, domestic and exporting earnings. Tilapia is an important protein source especially for poor consumer because they are an omnivorous diet, are tolerant to high density in aquaculture and relatively diseases resistant (FAO, 2017). Fishmeal is recognized by nutritionist as high quality, very digestible feed ingredient that is favored for addition to the diet of most farm animals, especially fish and shrimp. Fishmeal carries quantities of energy per unit weight and excellent source of protein, lipids, minerals and vitamins, carbohydrate very little in fishmeal (Mile & Chapman, 2015). Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatic) is wild plant that grows in water or moist soils and belongs to family Convolvulaceae (Salih, 1991). Water spinach offer nutritive values with significant quantities of essential amino acids, nonessential amino acids, macro and micro salts crude fibers, fatty acids, organic acids and polyphenols (Doka et al., 2014), the leaves of this plant is enriched with important vitamins (Igwenyiet al., 2011; &Misra& Misra., 2014). Water spinach leaves contained high amount of essential amino acids (4765 mg/100 g) and non-essential amino acids (11669 mg/100 g) representing a total amino acids content of 16434 mg/100 g. The most abundant components of essential amino acids were leucine (1365 mg/100 g), Tyrosine + phenylalanine (1124 mg/100 g), lysine (682 Journal of Aquatic Science and Marine Biology V2 ● I4 ● 2019 13 Effect of Replacing Fishmeal with Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) on Growth, Feed Conversion and Carcass Composition for Nile Tilapia Fry (Oreochromis niloticus) mg/100 g) and threonine (606 mg/100 g) (Kavishree et al, 2008). The leaves of this plant is enrich with important vitamins, namely thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin, ascorbic acid, a- tocopherol, and phylloquinone (Igwenyi et al 2011 and Misra et al., 2014).Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatic) is an aquatic vegetable distributed in Southern Asia, India, and China. The aerial parts of I. aquatic is a common vegetable eaten by different social groups of South-eastern Asia, India, China, Southwestern Pacific Islands, and African countries, namely Sudan, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Somalia (Doka et al., 2014; Igwenyi et al., 2011). Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatic), locally known in western Sudan as (Arkala), In Sudan the herb is used to treat stomach and intestinal troubles. Until recently, little attention has been given to the use of wild plants as food in Sudan. By learning more about the protein, fat and mineral content of each plant, one can better assess their importance in the nutritional well-being of the communities (Doka et al, 2014). Culture fish required protein, lipid, energy, vitamins and minerals in their diet for growth, reproduction, and other normal physiological functions. Nutrients for culture may come from various feed source, such as plankton, bacteria, insects and other fish from within the aquaculture ecosystem, and organic matter and processed feeds added to the ecosystem (Hancz, 2011). Natural foods are the best foods for fish and include algae (phytoplankton), zooplankton, detritus, snails, worms, insects and insect larvae, small plants like duckweeds and various other weeds and grasses that are found in a fish pond (WRC, 2010). With regard to the total sulphur amino acids (namely tyrosine, cystine, methionine and phenylalanine), tyrosine and cystine are best considered semi-essential in that the fish can utilize cystine as a precursor for the biosynthesis of methionine and phenylalanine, thus reducing the dietary requirement for these two essential amino acids. The optimum gross dietary lipid requirements for Nile tilapia ranges between 10 and 15 percent (White et al., 2018). MATERIALS AND METHODS Preparation of Experimental Diets In this study, firstly proximate composition and fatty acid profile of oilseed meals used in fish feeds were analyzed (Table 1) and then feasibility of replacing fishmeal with water spinach protein for Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus fry were find out. In this experiment five isonitrogenous 0 % (T0), 25% (T1), 50% (T2), 75% (T3), 100% (T4) fishmeal protein by water spinach protein were formulated (Table 2). All diets were isonitrogenous (30% crude protein); out of which 10% protein was contributed by fish meal. Crude protein content in the diet was fixed at 30% on the basis of earlier available information (Abdelghany, 2000). All the ingredients were weighed and blended in a Hobart electric mixer thoroughly. These were then steam cooked at 80°C in a volume of hot water. Oil, mineral and vitamin premixes were added to the lukewarm bowl one by one with constant mixing at 60°C. The final diet with bread dough consistency, and then pellets were produced by manual meat grinder with 0.6 mm diameter and later were dried for 24 hrs and subsequently broken into crumbled form and each diet was packed in a plastic bag and stored until used.The amino acid profiles of the experimental diets used in experiment were also analyzed and are given in Table7. Table1. Proximate composition profile of ingredients Ingredients Protein % Fat % Moisture % Ash % Fibre % energy kj/g FM 45 7.5 7.0 21.3 0.8 14.25 WS 21 13.21 9.36 2.53 6.83 14.35 GNK 43,7 16.81 6.25 10 18.38 14.79 CSM 38 14.87 13.69 10.40 12.21 14.09 WM 17 4.0 11 4.5 7.5 14.85 WB 13,7 7.72 4.12 4.37 10.47 14.01 Fish Meal (FM), Water Spinach (WS), Ground nut Cake (GNK), Cottonseed Meal (CSM), Wheat middlings (WM) and Wheat bran (WB) 14 Journal of Aquatic Science and Marine Biology V2 ● I4 ● 2019 Effect of Replacing Fishmeal with Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) on Growth, Feed Conversion and Carcass Composition for Nile Tilapia Fry (Oreochromis niloticus) Table2. Diet composition of the experiment Ingredients(g/ 100 g dry diet) T0 T1 T2 T3 T4 Fish meal1 40.00 30.00 20.00 10.00 0.00 Water Spinach2 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 Groundnut Cake3 20.00 20.00 20.00 20.00 20.00 Cottonseed Meal4 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 Wheat middling5 20.00 20.00 20.00 20.00 20.00 Wheat bran6 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 Oil 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 Mineral premix7 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 Vitamin premix8 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 Protein (%) 33.0±0.3 30.6±0.0 28.2±0.2 25.8±0.05 23.4±0.01 Calculated gross energy (kJ g-1, dry diet) 14.22±0.1 14.83±0.3 14.44±0.5 14.05.10 14.20±0.2 1 Fishmeal 45% CP; 2Water Spinach21%; 3Groundnut Cake43.7% CP; 4Cottonseed Meal 38%; 5Wheat Middling 17% CP and 6Wheat bran 13.7%.7Mineral mixture (g/100g dry diet) calcium biphosphate 13.57; calcium lactate 32.69; ferric citrate 02.97; magnesium sulphate 13.20; potassium phosphate (dibasic) 23.98; sodium biphosphate 08.72; sodium chloride 04.35; almunium chloride.6H2O 0.0154; potassium iodide 0.015; cuprous chloride 0.010; mangnous sulphate H20 0.080; cobalt chloride. 6H2O 0.100; zinc sulphate. 7H2O 0.40 (Halver, 2002). 8Vitamin mixture (g/100 dry diet) choline chloride 0.500;inositol 0.200; ascorbic acid 0.100; niacin 0.075; calcium pantothenate 0.05; riboflavin 0.02; menadione 0.004; pyridoxine hydrochloride 0.005; thiamin hydrochloride 0.005; folic acid 0.0015; biotin 0.0005; alpha-tocopherol 0.04; vitamin B12 0.00001; LobaChemie, India (Halver, 2002). EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEM AND ANIMALS Fry of Oreochromis niloticus were procured from Hussien Fadoul Fish Farm, SobaKhartoum, Sudan. These were transported to hatchery of the Department of fisheries and Wildlife Science, Sudan University of Science & Technology, Khartoum, Sudan, transport of fry in polyethylene sac and stocked in fiber glass for two days in this period fry no feed. After that use of small deep net to caught fries and then weight thesefries and standardized then transfered to medium aquarium and circular pond. During this period, the fish were fed to apparent satiation by feeding diet consisting of cotton seed meal, wheat bran and wheat middling in the form of dried powder diet twice a day at 8:00 a.m. and 04:30 p.m. For conducting the experiments, Oreochromis niloticusfry (3.25 ±0.44g; 3.6±0.2cm) were sorted out from the above acclimated lot and stocked in triplicate groups in 70-L circular polyvinyl tanks (water volume 20 L) fitted with a continuous water flow-through (1-1.5 L min-1) system at the rate of 10 fish per tank for each dietary treatment. Fish were fed test diets in the form of pellets diet to apparent satiation twice daily. No feed was offered to the fish on the day they were weighed. Initial and weekly weights were recorded on a top-loading balance. The feeding trial lasted for 7 weeks. Faecal matter and unconsumed feed, if any, were siphoned off. The unconsumed feed was filtered on a screen soon after active feeding, dried and weighed to measure the amount of feed consumed. Water Quality Parameters Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, NO2, NO3, pH, and total ammonia during the feeding trial were recorded following standard methods (APHA 1992). The range of water temperature, dissolved oxygen, NO3, pH, and NH3 over the 7 weeks feeding trial, based on weekly measurements, were 29.43 ºC, 5.31 mg L -1, 1.39 mg L-1, 7.37 and 0.29 mg L-1, respectively Table (5). Chemical Analysis At the begining of experiment, 10 fish were euthanized at stocking and frozen (<-15 ºC) for initial whole-body composition analysis, and at the termination of the seven week feeding trail, all fish were counted and weighted, and 10 fish per trough were ranndomly selected for analysis of whole-body composition. Assessment of proximate composition of ingredients, diets and carcass was made using standard techniques (AOAC 1995). Briefly, crude protein (N x 6.25) was determined (Kejeltec Tecator TM Technology 2300, Sweden), dry matter was determined after drying in a oven at 105 ºC, ash content was determined by incineration in a muffle furnace at 550 ºC for 8 hrs, crude fat (solven extraction with petroleum ether B.P 40- Journal of Aquatic Science and Marine Biology V2 ● I4 ● 2019 15 Effect of Replacing Fishmeal with Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) on Growth, Feed Conversion and Carcass Composition for Nile Tilapia Fry (Oreochromis niloticus) 60ºC for 2-4 h Socs Plus, SCS 4, Pleican Equipments, Chennai, India). Per cent survival = (Final number of fish/Initial number of fish) × 100 Growth Parameters The proximate content analysis of carcass and feed was done. The results from the replicates for each feed samples were used to provide the data for the statistical analysis. All growth data were subjected to analysis of variance (Snedecor and Cochran 1968; Sokal and Rohlf 1981). Differences among treatment means were determined by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at a P<0.05 level of significance (Duncan 1955). The effects of replacing fishmeal with water spinach in diets on growth and conversion efficiency of fingerling Oreochromis niloticus during the present experiment was evaluated using following indices: Live weight gain (LWG; %) = Final individual body weight (FW)-Initial individual body weight (IW)/Initial individual body weight (IW) × 100 Absolute weight gain (g/fish) = Final individual body weight-Initial individual body weight Feed conversion ratio (FCR) = Dry feed fed/Wet weight gain Protein efficiency ratio (PER) = Weight gain/ Protein fed Specific growth rate (SGR; %/day) = ln Final body weight-ln Initial body weight/No. of days × 100 RESULTS Results in Table 2 and 3. indicated that the overall mean ± SD of the final weight, (WG g/fish), (AWG g/fish), (LWG), (SGR) of Nile tilapia fed on diets with partially substituted by WSM, However, the greatest values of WG (g/fish (36.90±3.50), SGR% (5.44± 0.38) and FCR (1.96±0.18), PER (0.38±0.04) and the greatest values of final body weight (g) (40.4±3.22) were achieved by fish fed on T1. Table3. The increment weight of Nile tilapia (g/fish) as affected with WSM incorporation in diets/days Initial weight 7 days 14 days 21 days 28 days 35 days 42 days 49 days a, b, c T0 (0%) 3.60±0.10a 7.00±0.56a 9.53±0.40b 12.77±1.56 17.43±3.40 21.57±4.05 29.40±4.73 40.20±9.43 T1 (25%) 3.50±0.36a 7.73±0.40a 11.67±0.55a 16.50±0.56 19.43±1.07 25.13±2.38 35.43±3.66 40.40±3.22 T2 (50%) 2.53±0.51b 5.60±0.61b 8.27±2.25b 12.07±3.51 15.83±3.35 19.43±6.41 26.80±7.99 35.63±8.95 T3 (75%) 3.50±0.30a 4.93±0.57c 7.27±0.25c 9.53±1.01 13.93±1.45 18.27±1.10 24.87±2.74 32.90±3.38 T4 (100%) 3.13±0.84a 6.77±1.59b 9.63±1.48b 13.37±1.72 17.17±0.93 21.50±0.87 25.37±3.91 27.43±6.36 Mean values followed by the same superscript in each column are not significant different (p>0.05) Table4. Growth, survival and feed utilization of Nile tilapia fed experimental diets IW (g) FW(g) AWG (g) LWG % SGR FCR PER Survival % a, b, c T0 (0%) 3.60±0.10a 40.20±9.43a 36.60+9.46a 1016.67+29.73a 4.66+1.30c 2.05+0.5a 0.35+ 0.09b 98 T1 (25%) 3.5±0.36a 40.4±3.22a 36.90+3.50a 1054.29+212.08a 5.44+0.38a 1.96+ 0.18a 0.38+0.04a 100 T2 (50%) 2.53±0.51b 35.63±8.95b 33.10+ 8.70b 1308.3+341.42b 5.19+1.49a 2.28+0.68b 0.36+0.10b 100 T3 (75%) 3.5±0.30a 32.90±3.38b 29.40+3.39b 840.0+107.34c 4.98+0.29b 2.47+ 0.27b 0.36+0.04b 98 T4 (100%) 3.13±0,84a 27.43±6,36c 24.30+6,42c 776.36+311.00d 4.83+0.73b 3.10+ 0.78b 0.33+0,09c 98 Mean values followed by the same superscript in each column are not significant different (p>0.05) Table5. Mean physical-chemical parameters of the test concentrations water spinach on Water Quality pH NH3 NO2 NO3 DO Temp. 16 T0 (0%) 7.20+0.01 0.29+0.01 0.00+0.00 1.78+0.01 5.55±1.29 29.60+0.51 T1 (25%) 7.53+0.00 0.22+0.19 0.00+0.00 1.56+0.01 5.13±0.33 29.60+0.01 T2 (50%) 7.17+0.07 0.33+0.10 0.00+0.00 1.22+0.03 5.19±1.63 29.63+0.51 T3 (75%) 7.66+0.08 0.28+0.01 0.00+0.00 1.23+0.05 5.32±1.90 29.10+0.51 T4 (100%) 7.28+0.10 0.32+0.10 0.00+0.00 1.15+0.50 5.34+0.24 29.24+0.51 Journal of Aquatic Science and Marine Biology V2 ● I4 ● 2019 Effect of Replacing Fishmeal with Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) on Growth, Feed Conversion and Carcass Composition for Nile Tilapia Fry (Oreochromis niloticus) a, b, c Mean values followed by the same superscript in each column are not significant different (p>0.05). Table6. Whole-body Composition or CarcassComposition of fry Nile tilapiaOreochromis niloticus fed graded concentrations of Water Spinach for 7 weeks DM% Fat% CP% Ash T0 25.91 + 0.20b 5.26 + 0.50c 70.5 + 0.50 a 1.92 + 0.30c T1 25.10 + 0.81b 5.36 + 0.30c 68.43 + 0.40a 6.00 + 0.26b Experimental diets T2 25.78 + 0.76b 7.14 + 0.83b 67.05 + 0.50a 8.11 +0 .71b T3 26.06 +1.95a 11.11 +0.10a 61.95 + 0.2b 8.33 + 0.29b T4 23.65 + 0.32c 10.00 + 0.01a 60.11 + 0.7b 15.00 + 0.25a Means in the same row with different superscripts are significantly (P<0.05) different . The results of whole body content or the carcass composition very important for nutritional value of Nile tilapia. In table 6 dry matter in the experimental ranged from 23.65 to 26.06. The fat in body ranged between 5.26% in T0 to 11.11% in T3. Crude protein in body of fish depended to essential amino acid in the diets. Generally, crude protein decrease with decrease of fish meal, high Crude protein in T0 (70.5%) and lower crude protein in T4 (60.11%). The Ash content between 1.92 in T0 to 15.00 in T4 Table7. Amino acid composition (% dry matter) of the experimental diets. Calculated based on the plant feedstuff values reported for Nile tilapia (Furuya et al., 2010). Arginine, % Histidine, % Isoleucine % Leucine % Lysine % Methionine % Cystine % Phenylalnine % Tyrosine % Threonine % Tryptophan % Valine % T0 2.43 1.22 0.78 2.52 2.45 0.78 0.38 1.48 1.05 1.43 0.37 0.88 T1 2.93 1.28 1.80 1.83 1.14 0.51 0.37 1.30 0.96 1.63 0.43 2.10 DISCUSSION Selection of feed ingredients is one of the most important factors for the formulation and commercial production of supplemental quality feed for any aquatic species (Zamal et al., 2008; Koumi et al., 2009). Although fish meal is the widely used feed ingredients as animal protein source and accepted for its higher protein composition and essential amino acids; it is rather expensive than the available plant protein sources (Vechklanget al., 2011). Beside this, the availability of fish meal is decreasing day by day due to its high demand in other than aquaculture industry like livestock, poultry etc. The decreased supply of fish meal in future will dramatically affect the fish production. One approach to reduce fish meal from fish diets is to replace it with alternative less expensive and easily available plant protein, which will allow for continued expansion of aquaculture. In view of this, a number of plant protein source has T2 2.89 1.33 2.08 3.24 2.64 0.84 0.42 2.10 1.58 1.65 0.49 2.31 T3 2.57 1.39 2.37 3.61 2.75 0.89 0.90 2.44 1.87 2.03 0.55 2.54 T4 3.34 1.44 2.65 3.99 2.53 0.92 2.52 2.76 2.14 2.23 0.62 2.76 been evaluated for the replacement of fish meal (Alceste and Jory, 2000; Yue and Zhou, 2008; Francis et.al 2001). The proximate composition of water spinach leaf meal used in the experiment revealed that the crude protein content were high compared to the result Doka et al, 2014. These differences might be due to different environmental conditions such as soil type, local varieties, and processing methods. All the experimental feeds were actively fed upon and accepted by the fish throughout the experimental period which could be as a result of palatability of the feed indicating that the levels of incorporation of water spinach did not affect the palatability of the diets. Growth rates in weight and were calculated from measurements all sample of 10 fish, but also by the survival rate of the fish population. This varied among treatments, and thus in some cases the feed available per fish was influenced by the numbers of fish surviving Journal of Aquatic Science and Marine Biology V2 ● I4 ● 2019 17 Effect of Replacing Fishmeal with Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) on Growth, Feed Conversion and Carcass Composition for Nile Tilapia Fry (Oreochromis niloticus) in the aquarium. For this reason productivity was measured as the growth performance, expressed as weight of fish at the end of the experiment high the weight at the beginning. Using this criterion it was clear that the survival rate had a determining effect on fish productivity compere to the results of Sorphea (2010). Growth rate measured on weight of all fish in the aquarium weekly at 7 week. High weight in final week,in the present study, there were no significant differences in AWG, LWG, SGR, and PER between the 5 treatments, but there was a difference in survival, suggesting that I. aquaticacultivation significantly affected survival rather than the growth of Pelodiscussinensisin ponds. Although this is the first study to report the effects of I. aquaticacultivation on P. sinensis growth and survival in pond culture, similar observations on cultured fish species, such as crucian carp Carassiusauratus (Chen et al., 2010). In the present study, the inputs of fishmeal replacement with water spinach meal (0-100%) have been evaluated on Nile tilapia fry. The highest absolute weight gain (36.90g), live weight gain (1.07g) and SGR (5.44) was noticed in T1 (Table 4) as compared to treatments. While comparing the treatments, it was the growth performance of experimental fish had negative impact of increasing water spinach meal in fish diet without T1. Similar results were also reported by Yee Lin et al., (2004) and Xu et al., (2012) four isonitrogenic and isocaloric diets which contained 100-75% fish meal. After 7 weeks feeding period, no significant (P>0.05) difference was found in live weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio among fish fed different experimental diets. (Yee Lin etal.,2004). Weight gain, feed conversion ratio and survival rate compared to fish fed of all the treatment (p<0.05) in the present study, the highest absolute weight gain was recorded in T1 (36.90) which was followed by T0 (36.60), T2 (33.10g), T3 (29.40g) whereas, the lowest absolute weight gain (24.30g) was inT4. The recorded absolute weight gain was statistically different between treatments. SGR was not significantly, higher (5.44) in T1 as compared to other treatments. Whereas lowest SGR (4.66) was found in T0. FCR was also no significant higher (3.10) in T4 as compared to other treatment. Whereas, lowest FCR (1.91) was found in T1. The Nile tilapia fed with T0, T1, T2, T3 and T4 diet with no replacement or 18 replacement of fish meal with water spinach meal attended an average net weight of 36.90 respectively. Thus, best growth of Nile tilapia fry was reported when fed with the T1 diet. Nile tilapia provided the diet with 25 per cent replacement of fish meal with water spinach attended an average weight of 36.90±3.50 which was reported to be the highest in fish meal replaced diet. Thus, fish meal replaced by water spinach meal had effect on growth of Nile tilapia compared to the result (Fabusoro et al., 2014). CONCLUSION The experiment showed that feeds were actively consumed by the experimental fish; Nile tilapia which brought an increase in weight. Since there was no significant difference (P>0.05) among the means of the treatments, it shows that any of the inclusion level can be used up to 50% inclusion level of water spinach.However, 25% inclusion level of water spinach produced best result in terms of growth. It is therefore recommended that water spinachplant can be incorporated at 25% inclusion without compromising fish growth. There are various alternative protein sources that can be used in aquaculture diets, without affecting growth performance, feed efficiency, and body composition, since the amino acids requirement is considered, water spinach meal (WSM) can be used as plant protein ingredient. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors are grateful to the Dean, College of Animal Production Science and Technology and the head department of Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Sudan University of Science & Technology for providing necessary laboratory facilities and also the assistance rendered by Hussien Fadoul Fish hatchery (Soba Agriculture Scheme-Sudan) for providing us the Nile Tilapia and also technical staff Depatment of Fisheries and Wildlife Science for their assistance in laboratory work namely: Mr. Ahmed Babay and Ms. Abeer Musa. REFERENCES [1] Abdelghany, A. E. (2000). Optimum dietary protein requirements for Oreochromisniloticus L. fry using formulated semi purified diet. In: K. Fitzsimmons and J.C. Filho (eds.). Tilapia aquaculture in 21stcentury.Proc.from the 5th Intl. Symp. On Tilapia in aquaculture. Rio de Janeiro, brazil, 3-7 September2000. 101-108. Journal of Aquatic Science and Marine Biology V2 ● I4 ● 2019 Effect of Replacing Fishmeal with Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) on Growth, Feed Conversion and Carcass Composition for Nile Tilapia Fry (Oreochromis niloticus) [2] AOAC (1995) Official Methods of Analysis. 16th Edition, Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington DC. [3] American Public Health Association (APHA) (1992).Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater. 18th Edition, APHA, AWWA, WPCF, NY, Washington DC. Alceste C.C and Jory DE (2000). TilapiaAlternative protein sources in tilapia feed formulation. Aquaculture Magazine, 2000; 26(4):199-1388. [4] [5] Chen J, Meng S, Hu G, Qu J, Fan L (2010). Effects of Ipomoea aquaticacultivation on artificial floating rafts onwater quality of intensive aquaculture ponds. J EcolRur Environ 26: 155−159 (in Chinese with English Abstract) [6] Doka, G.I., Tigni, S.E., Yagi, S., (2014). Nutritional composition and antioxidant properties of Ipomoeaaquatic (Forsek) leaves. J. For. Prod. Industries3, 204e210. [7] Fabusoro A.A, Odulate D.O., Idowu A.A., and Odebiyi C.O. (2014).Growth Performance of Juvenile Clariasgariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Fed Ipomoea aquatica Based Diets, Journal of Fisheries and aquatic scince, pp-468-472. [8] Dunz, A.R. and Schliewen, U.K. (2013). Molecular phylogeny and revised classification of the haplotilapiine cichlid fishes formerly referred to as ‘‘Tilapia’’. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 68, 64-80. [9] FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) (2017). Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) Caused by an Orthomyxo-like virus (Family Orthomyxoviridae) Threatening Cultured and Wild Stocks of Tilapia. Rom. September- Newsletter No. 57. [10] FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) (2018).Notes from the Aquaculture Statistician. Rome, April. Pp_66. [11] Francis G, Makkar HPS, Becker K. Antinutritional factors present in plant-derived alternate fish feed ingredients and their effects in fish. Aquaculture. 2001; 199(3-4):197-227. [12] Furuya, W.M., L.E. Pezzato, M.M. Barros, W.R. Boscolo, J.E.P. Cyrino, V.R.B. Furuya & A. Feiden. (2010). Tabelasbrasileiras para a nutrição de tilápias. GFM, Toledo, 100 pp. [13] Halver JE (2002) The vitamins and Minerals. In: Halver JE, Hardy RW (eds) Fish nutrition, 3rd edn. Academic Press, San Diego, 839 pp. [14] Hancz. Csaba (2011).Fish Nutrition and Feeding, Publication date- 31 August 2011, Responsible for content: TÁMOP-4.1.2-08/1/A-2009-0059 project consortium, B-23. Kaposvár University. [15] Igwenyi, I.O., Offor, C.E., Ajah, D.A., Nwankwo, O.C.,Ukaomah, J.I.,Aja, P.M., (2011). Chemical compositions of Ipomoeaaquatic (greenkangkong). Int. J. PharmaBiosci.2, B593e B598. [16] Koumi, A.R., Atse, B.C. and Kouame, L.P., 2009. Utilization of soya protein as an alternative protein source in Oreochromisniloticus diet: Growth performance, feed utilization, proximate, Downloaded from jifro.ir at 19:15 +0430 on Sunday April 8th 2018Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences 12(4) 2013 872 composition and organoleptic characteristics. African Journal of Biotechnology, 8(1):091-097. [17] Misra, S., Misra, M.K. (2014). Nutritional evaluation of some leafy vegetable used by the tribal and rural people of south Odisha, India.J.Nat.Prod.PlantResour.4, 23e28. [18] R. D. Miles F.A. Chapman (2015).The Benefits of Fish Meal in Aquaculture Diets. Original publication date November 2005. Reviewed January 2015. Pp-6. Visit the EDIS website at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. [19] Salih, A. O. (1991). Famine foods. University of Khartoum. Ph.D Thesis. [20] Schwarzer, J, Misof, B, Tautz, D., and Schliewen, U.K. (2009).The root of the East African cichlid radiations. BMC Evolutionary Biology 9:186 [21] Sorphea. Sen (2010). Effect of stocking density and fertilization on the growth performance of tilapia (Oreochromisspp.)fed rice bran,water spinach and duckweed in pond and paddy field. ISBN 978-91-86197-98-8.pp-28. [22] Vechklang, K., Boonanuntanasarn, S., Ponchunchoovong, S., Pirarat, N. and Wanapu, C., 2011. The potential for rice wineresidual as an alternative protein source in apracticaldiet for Nile Tilapia (Oreochromisniloticus) at the juvenile stage. Aquaculture Nutrition, 17,685-694. [23] Way-Yee Lin, Che-Chun Chen, Ming-Che Du, Chen- Huei Huang (2004). Replacement of Fish Meal with De-hulled Soybean Meal in Diets on Growth of Sub adult Hybrid Tilapia, Oreochromisniloticus x O. aureus, J. Fish. Soc. Taiwan. 2004; 31(4):263-268. [24] White, P.G., Shipton, T.A., Bueno, P.B. and Hasan, M.R. (2018). Better management practices for feed production and management of Nile tilapia and milkfish in the Philippines. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 614. Rome, FAO. 98 pp. [25] WRC (Water Research Commission) (2010). A Manual for Rural Freshwater Aquaculture Rural Fisheries Programme Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science Rhodes University and Department of Agriculture, Forestry Journal of Aquatic Science and Marine Biology V2 ● I4 ● 2019 19 Effect of Replacing Fishmeal with Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) on Growth, Feed Conversion and Carcass Composition for Nile Tilapia Fry (Oreochromis niloticus) and Fisheries WRC Report NO. TT 463/P/10, [email protected] [26] Xu WJ, Pan LQ, Zhao DH, Huang J. Preliminary investigation into the contribution of bioflocs on protein nutrition of Litopenaeusvannamei fed with different dietary protein levels in zerowater exchange culture tanks. Aquaculture. 2012;350-353:147–53. [27] Yue YR and Zhou QC. (2008). Effect of replacing soybean meal with cottonseed meal on growth, feed utilization, and hematological indexes for juvenile hybrid tilapia, Oreochromisniloticus × O. aureus. Aquaculture, 284(1/4): 185–189. [28] Zamal, H., Barua, P., Uddin, B. and Islam, K.S.,2008. Application of ipil-ipil leaf meal as feed Ingredient for monosex tilapia fry (Oreochromisniloticus) in terms of growth and economics. Aquaculture Asia magazine, AprilJune, 31-33p. ABBREVIATIONS FM Fishmeal, WS Water Spinach, CSM Cotton Seed Meal, WM Wheat Middlings, WB Wheat Bran, GNK Ground nut Cake, DO Dissolved Oxygen Citation: Yousif R. A, Abdullah O.J, Ahmed A. M., Adam M.I, Mohamed Ahmed F. A, Idam O A, “Effect ofReplacing Fishmeal with Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) on Growth, Feed Conversion and CarcassComposition for Nile Tilapia Fry (Oreochromis niloticus)”, Journal of Aquatic Science and Marine Biology,2019, 2(4), pp.13-20. Copyright: © 2019 Yousif R. A. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. 20 Journal of Aquatic Science and Marine Biology V2 ● I4 ● 2019