Chickweed (Stellaria media) Leaf Meal as a Feed Ingredient for Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

A study was undertaken to determine the effect of the inclusion of chickweed (Stellaria media) leaf meal (CLM) on growth performance, feed utilization, nutrition retention, and whole body composition of tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus. Five isonitrogenous (35% crude protein) and isoenergetic diets were formulated to contain chickweed leaf meal at levels of 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 20%. A 45-day feeding trial was carried out on triplicate groups of 225 mixed sex fish in 140-L fiberglass tanks. There were no particular differences in protein retention, fat retention, energy retention, whole body dry matter, and ash levels of fish fed experimental diets (P > 0.05). However, 20% chickweed supplementation significantly decreased final fish weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, whole body protein, and fat levels (P < 0.05), probably as a result of oxalic acid toxicity. Inclusion of CLM can be used at 10% in tilapia diets without significant reduction in growth. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.