Oreochromis niloticus Targeted Locus (Loci). Oreochromis niloticus

Feed constitutes 60-80% of total production costs of tilapia (Oreochromis spp.). A better understanding of how finfish acquire and utilize nutrient inputs is requisite for future improvements in aquaculture production efficiency. Reductions in quantity of feed used for fish growout and in the cost of formulated feeds are two approaches to containing feed costs. We evaluated pulsed-feeding strategies for improving production efficiency of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus). In a 12-week pond trial, fish were fed daily, every other day, every third day, or not at all. In all groups ponds were fertilized weekly to enhance natural foods. In the other group fish were fed daily without weekly pond fertilization. Our studies suggest that combined feeding and fertilization produces the greatest biodiversity of microbiomes in the intestine that could contribute to enhanced feed efficiency and overall health of tilapia, particularly those subjected to more moderate feeding strategies.