EVALUATING THE OUTCOMES OF SELECTIVE BREEDING IN OPTIMIZING THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF TILAPIA (Oreochromis spp.) FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION IN THE BAHAMAS
Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) is the second most farmed fish globally and is the most introduced aquaculture species. Different strains of tilapia have been developed through selective breeding programs over the years to optimize its three main performance traits: growth rate, hardiness, and marketability. Of all the strains developed, one of the most popular is the red hybrid tilapia (O. urolepis female was crossed with a red-gold male O. mossambicus), which was developed to improve the aforementioned traits under commercial production conditions. A strain of the O. aureus crossed with O. niloticus tilapia with a white colour was also developed to optimize both growth and marketability.
This comparative study assessed the growth potential of two tilapia strains (red hybrid, and O. niloticus X O. aureus White hybrid) in a recirculating aquaponics system in the Bahamas. Tanks were established with fry of each strain, starting off at roughly 5 grams. Fish were fed 5% of their body weight daily using commercial tilapia starter feed (40% protein). The fish weight was monitored, and feed conversion ratios were calculated on a weekly basis for the duration of the study period. The results indicated that for all the parameters measured, the O. aureus X O. niloticus strain showed more favourable growth under prevailing Bahamian climate than the red hybrid tilapia. It can therefore be concluded that farmers in the Bahamas and in similar climatic regions should consider the O. niloticus as a strain of economic significance for cultivation.