Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Growth Performance and Carcass Composition of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) Fed Dietary Copra Meal and Pea Meal

Date of Award

7-1-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biology

First Advisor

Janice A. Ragaza, PhD

Abstract

Feeding covers at least half of the total aquaculture costs in which fishmeal price accounts the most. However, fishmeal costs rise with the increased fish demand globally. Plant-based proteins are utilized to replace fishmeal that can consequently reduce feed costs. This study comprehensively quantified the growth performance and carcass composition of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed dietary copra meal and pea meal via systematic review and meta-analysis approach. Literature review was done following the PRISMA method for paper selection. The data from peer-reviewed papers that qualified from the inclusion screening criteria such as standard error reporting, feeding period, absence of dietary supplements, tilapia development stage, and crude protein levels were subjected to meta-analysis. Results showed that growth and feed utilization parameters were significantly different (P ≤ 0.05), favoring the control over the plant-based diets. Moreover, the pooled estimate of carcass composition of fish fed pea meal-based diet was not significantly different with that of fish fed fishmeal-based diet (P > 0.05). The same trend was seen for copra meal except for ash content (P < 0.05). The feeding period, crude protein level, fish development stage, and dietary copra inclusions were subjected to meta-regression analysis due to high and statistically significant I2 values to determine the sources of heterogeneity. The residual I2 values showed that these factors did not affect the heterogeneity of the data presented for copra meal while feeding period and crude protein % moderately explained the heterogeneity in pea for some parameters. Nonetheless, data from meta-analysis using model coefficients revealed that the minimum required levels are 594 g kg-1, 617 g kg-1 , and 462 g kg-1 of dietary copra meal are needed for optimum growth performance, feed utilization, and carcass composition of Nile tilapia, respectively. On the other hand, 4.9 g kg-1 , 488.6 g kg-1, and 210.3 g kg-1 are the minimum requirements for dietary pea meal inclusion for optimum growth performance, feed utilization, and carcass composition of Nile tilapia, respectively. The study showed that systematic review and meta-analysis can be a useful tool in optimizing plant-based diets for aquaculture species.

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