Four experimental isonitrogenous (33% crude protein) and isoenergitic diets
were formulated to contain 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 % of dried caraway seeds meal (CSM)
in order to study the effects of different levels of CSM on growth, survival, feed and
nutrient utilization, attraction activity, nutrient digestibility, body composition and cost-
benefit analysis of hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus x O. auraus, fingerlings. Eight
glass aquaria (each holds 96-L capacity) were used in duplicates. Ten fish (stocking
rate of 104 fish 1m³) of the same average weight (13 glfish) were stocked in each
aquarium. Fish were fed daily at a rate of 3 % of the body weight, three times daily,
six days a week for 112 days. Fish were weighed biweekly and feed amounts were
adjusted on the basis of the new weight. Feces were collected daily during the last
two weeks to determine apparent digestibility coefficients. Results indicated that no significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in
digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and nitrogen free extract among
fish fed all the tested diets. Fish fed 0.5% CSM was Significantly higher (P<0.05) in
body weight, weight gain and SGR than those fed the control diet. However, growth
performance parameters of fish fed CSM levels of 1 and 2% were insignificant
(P>0.05). Fish fed 0.5% CSM diet was the best supplemented level for FCR, PER,
PPV%, ER%, feed waste %, palatability index and profit index in comparison to the
control diet and other tested CSM levels. Body composition did not affect by using
various levels of CSM.