Inclusion of cocoa shell flour (Theobroma cacao L) in the diet of (Oreochromis spp)

The research was carried out at the Socio Tilapia fish farm facilities; via Quevedo, Santo Domingo, Los Ríos province, at an altitude of 100 meters above sea level, to determine the inclusion of cocoa shell flour in the fish farming process (Theobroma cacao L) as an alternative protein source in intensive tilapia farming (Oreochromis spp). The sample size consisted of 128 fish, with 8 experimental units per cage, fed for 42 days, with the inclusion of cocoa shell meal levels (0, 4, 8, and 12%), in four treatments and four replicates, with commercial pelleted concentrate as control; an experimental design (DCA) was used, with multiple comparison measures according to Tukey's test (P < 0.05). The results in all variables had a better performance in the T3 treatment (12% cocoa shell meal), without affecting any parameter, obtaining better results for feed conversion (1.45%), weight gain (24.05%), feed consumption (675.06 g) and total length with an average of (1 cm) corresponding to the days of investigation of the 32 experimental units. It was established that in fillet yield and carcass yield there is a usable value, 47.49 %, and 95.42 %, while a lower value in the by-products, 54.65 %, respectively.&nbsp