Nutritional value of coconut meal in diets for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Employment of coconut meal in rations for Nile tilapia through weight gain and apparent digestibility was evaluated. Experimental design was completely randomized and consisted of four treatments and four replications. Four isonitrogenous (28%CP) and isoenergetic (3060 kcal/ED/kg) experimental rations were prepared with 0, 10, 20 and 30% of coconut meal. Sixty-four fingerlings, average initial weight of 0.75g, were distributed in 16 fiberglass-built aquariums, with a capacity of 80 L each, provided with water renovation (0.2 L/min), aeration and heater (26.0ºC). Whereas statistical analysis revealed significant difference among treatments (p < 0.01), coconut meal may be included in rations for Nile tilapia fingerlings up to 30.0%. The apparent digestibility coefficient for coconut meal was 60.53% for dry matter, 86.78% for crude protein, 94.64% for fat extract and 82.47% for mineral matter. Digestible energy amounted to 3525 kcal ED/kg and 19.97% for available phosphorus.