LINEAR PROGRAMMING AND THE FORMULATION OF LEAST COST DIETS FOR TILAPIA, OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research | ||
| Article 17, Volume 74, Issue 4, December 1996, Pages 1069-1079 PDF (2.99 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejar.1996.431764 | ||
| Author | ||
| HUSSEIN A. A. HEBICHA | ||
| Central Laboratory of Aquaculture Research, Abbassa, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Feed costs represent about 30% to 50% of total variable costs in semi-intensive fish culture systems in Egypt. Feed therefore has a major role in the economics of such enterprises. A linear programming model was developed to formulate least cost diets for tilapia with protein levels of 23% to 30%. Diets were formulated subject to limits imposed on their content of protein, fiber, phosphorus, fat, carbohydrates, metabolizable energy, lysine and sulfur amino acids, and cottonseed meal. Data regarding feed ingredient composition and prices, nutrient requirements of tilapia, and limits on the use of certain feed ingredients were obtained from primary and secondary sources. Results indicated the importance of fishmeal, cottonseed meal, rice bran with germ, poultry by-products, and wheat bran in feed formulation. The cost of feed ingredients was 435 L.E. per ton for the 23% protein diet, and increased by 12 L.E. for each additional 1% protein. There is a need to quantify the economic effects of different dietary protein levels and dietary inclusion levels of cottonseed meal on tilapia yield and producer's profits under local field conditions. | ||
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