Digestibility of fermented copra meal for fish as plant protein source in the Saline tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Seeds

Abstract

Copra meal is an alternative protein source as fish meal in fish feed because the nutritional value is almost the same. However, copra meal has a relatively high crude fiber content, so efforts are needed to reduce crude fiber content through the fermentation process using the microbe Rizopus sp. which produces cellulase enzymes. This study aims to determine the digestibility level of fermented copra meal in feed as a source of vegetable protein in the maintenance of saline tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus) seeds. The research were conducted with the addition of fermented, dried and powdered copra meal to the feed with a concentration of: (A) 0%; (B) 15%; (C) 30% and (D) 45%. The fish were given test feed on a daily basis with a feeding frequency of once per day. The results showed that giving 15% of the fermented copra meal as plant protein source in the feed gave a better total feed digestibility compared to the addition of unfermented copra meal.