Apparent digestibility and macro-microscopic effect on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed palm kernel meal

To evaluate the nutritional value of palm kernel meal on the performance Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), five isonitrogenous (30% crude protein), isoenergetic (2800 kcal/kg of digestible energy), and isofibrous (10% crude fiber) diets, with increasing levels of palm kernel meal (0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35%). were ad libitum fed to fingerlings with initial body weight of 1.52g +/- 0.04, housed per 120 days in 35 aquarium of 60 liters with fingerlings each. The environmental culture condition were monitored during all experimental period. Statistical analyses of recorded data were performed through polynomial regression models. To determine the apparent digestibility, macroscopic analysis of viscera and microscopic analysis of intestine epithelium were performed. The obtained results indicated that the inclusion of palm kernel meal up to 35% Nile tilapia diets did not affects the apparent digestibility and did not induce any pathological effects on viscera and intestinal epithelium.