The Viability of Water Hyacinth Leaves as a Cost-effective Supplement in Tilapia Feeding

Tilapia farming often incurs high feed costs throughout the growing period. Thus, providing insights into alternative feeding strategies for tilapia farming may address the challenge of high feed costs. This study would offer practical implications for the aquaculture industry, highlighting the potential economic and environmental benefits of adopting water hyacinth leaves as a supplementary feed source for tilapia. This study investigated the potential of water hyacinth leaves as a supplementary feed to reduce overall costs. Specifically, it included evaluating the effects of water hyacinth leaves on individual and average weights of tilapia compared to those fed only commercial fish feed; and determined the cost effectiveness of water hyacinth supplementation in tilapia farming. The findings revealed acceptable results in average body weight (150-300 grams) and feed conversion ratio; control with 146.6 grams and a feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.7, 75/25 water hyacinth leaf-feed mix with 140 grams and an FCR of 1.8, 50/50 water hyacinth leaf-feed mix with 125 grams and an FCR of 2.0, and 80/20 water hyacinth leaf- feed mix with 116.6 grams and an FCR of 2.1. (Indicate highlight of results in cost analysis) This suggests that water hyacinth leaves can be successfully utilized as a cost- effective supplement in tilapia feeding.