Nutritional and economic models to estimate optimal dietary balanced protein levels for finishing Nile tilapia

• Grant number: 23/06935-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: João Batista Kochenborger Fernandes
• Grantee: Rafael de Souza Romaneli
• Host Institution: Centro de Aquicultura (CAUNESP). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/12857-8 - Optimization of balanced protein levels for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) for different marketable products, AP.R

Abstract

Adjusting nutritional needs to maximize gross margin is a sustainable strategy in aquaculture production. In this context, the present study will be carried out to determine the effect of balanced dietary protein on the production characteristics of Nile tilapia in the finishing phase and to elaborate nutritional and economic models that contribute to the maximization of the gross margin in the commercialization of products, as whole fish, steak, and fillet. To achieve these goals, a 90-day feeding trial will be performed. The design will consist of six treatments and four repetitions, totaling 24 experimental units with 15 tilapias with an average initial weight of 300 g. Fish will be fed 3 times a day until apparent satiation, with experimental diets containing six levels of balanced protein (19.63, 23.24, 26.84, 30.45, 34.18 and 37.79%). The zootechnical performance parameters will be calculated, as well as the cost of feed, revenue, and gross margin. Fish growth and economic data will be adjusted by nutritional and economic models that will allow the calculation of optimized balanced protein levels to maximize growth and gross margin. The optimal levels of balanced protein will be calculated considering three different market strategies proposed for the sale of the products. The generated results will help in the formulation and/or adjustment of the diets according to the way in which the fish is commercialized. In addition, the economic models will help in the financial management of the production, aiming to increase the gross margin in scenarios of change in the cost of the feed.