ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of three feeds formulated for three fish farmingagroecological areas of Côte d’Ivoire on the growth and nutritional quality of Oreochromis niloticus juveniles.Feeds were formulated at 30% crude protein with locally-sourced raw materials available by area. The use ofdifferent ingredients at different levels for feeds formulation made variations in the nutritional compositionsand costs of the three feeds produced. The average male weight of O. niloticus juveniles, 26.89 ± 2.98–27.35± 2.74 g, was stocked at a density of 3 fish/m2 and was hand fed at 5%–3% body weight two times daily, 6days per week during 120 days in the triplicate earthen ponds. At the end of the feeding trial, daily weight gainvalues varied between 1.12 ± 0.08 g/day and 1.21 ± 0.06 g/day and survival rate ranged between 99.44 ± 0.00and 100%. No significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in the growth performance and feed efficiencyparameters of juveniles O. niloticus feeding. An increase in crude lipid and gross energy was observed in wholebody compositions of O. niloticus feeding with the highest dietary lipid levels. Low-cost locally adapted feedsproduced for O. niloticus juveniles growth were competitive and proffer the opportunity to improve availabilityof local quality feeds in the fish farming areas of Côte d’Ivoire.