Tilapia Alternate Feeding 18S

This investigation assessed how the gut microbial flora is altered by reduced-feeding strategies and may provide useful data for the identification of beneficial microbes for potential use as probiotic dietary supplements or cultures promoting optimal growth, feeding efficiency, and nutrient utilization in tilapia pond culture. Through studies designed to determine the optimal feeding regime to reduce feed costs while maximizing production, we have found that by utilizing a pulsed-feeding strategy of alternate-day feeding along with weekly pond fertilization there is no significant decline in performance or yield of tilapia in ponds. The use of microbiome techniques could identify potential beneficial gut bacteria needed for optimal nutritional absorption. These studies could also generate a greater understanding of how gut microbial diversity changes in response to alternate-feeding strategies.