Pages: (27-34 )
Abstract
A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a biodegradation method on the nutritive value of undegraded rice husk (RH) and biodegraded rice hush (BRH) for Nile tilapia fingerlings. Undegraded rice husk (RH) and biodegraded rice hush (BRH) were incorporated into six isonitrogenous (35% CP) test diets 7.5%, 10% and 12.5% inclusion levels against maize. A diet without undegraded rice husk (RH) and biodegraded rice hush (BRH) served as control. The experimental diets were fed to triplicate groups of fish fingerlings (0.81g average body weight) for 70 days. The mean weight gain and specific growth rate of fish across the various inclusion levels were significantly better (P<0.05) than the control except at 12.5% level of inclusion in both RH and BRH. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) increased with the inclusion level of test ingredients (RH and BRH) but no significant difference (P>0.05) between RH diets and the control up to 10% inclusion but for the BRH beyond 7.5% FCR performance became significantly different. Investment cost analysis decreased significantly on addition of both RH and BRH to the different experimental diets. Blood parameters like PCV, Hb and lymphocyte in all experimental diets dropped below the control diet but as the level of the test ingredient increased so thus the above named parameters. Neutrophil on the other hand significantly increased along inclusion level on the RH diets. No regular pattern was observed in the biochemical parameters like alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate transaminase at the various inclusion levels of test ingredients.
Keywords: rural youth, attitude, involvement, agriculture, development,