Productive performance of tilapia females, Oreochromis niloticus, under different farming methods.

Abstract

Objectives: The objective was to assess the effect of different farming methods on the condition factor and egg production in female brooders of tilapia. Materials and methods: three different stocks of brooders were kept in three different experimental treatments – TC: green water (control), T1: aquamimicry, T2: biofloc, being each stock as a repetition at each experimental treatment. A sexual ratio of 3:1 was used and a commercial diet with a content of protein of 32% was provided twice at a day for 60 days. At the beginning and ending of the experiment, the condition factor was estimated. Every week, the eggs produced in each tank were collected, at the end of the experiment, the production volume was estimated in all experimental treatments. Results: In the condition factor no significant differences were observed at the beginning of the experiment, but at the ending significant differences were recorded between the stocks, but not between treatments. Either no significant differences were observed when the condition factor was assessed between brooders stock and experimental treatments. Finally, significant differences were observed in the egg production between the experimental treatments, with the higher production into the three brooders stocks of the T1 treatment, with production volumes around of 70 ml. Conclusions: The maintenance of tilapia broodstock in “aquamimicry” culture systems, results in a significant increase in the volume of eggs production.