EVALUATION OF GROWTH RATE AND SURVIVAL RATE OF 4th GENERATION TILAPIA STRAIN WITH CHINESE AND THAI STRAINS IN CAGE CULTURE SYSTEMS

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the growth performance, survival rate, uniformity and fillet yield of selectively bred tilapia of the 4^th generation (G4 strain) compared with Chinese and Thai trains. The experiment was cultured in a cage system on a branch of the Tam Ky river, with 3,000 fish per strain and three replicates. The results showed that the body weight and length of the G4 strain (936.3 ± 6.03 g and 422.9 ± 1.84 mm) were not significantly different from those of the Chinese strain (985.8 ± 17.59 g and 440.4 ± 6.05 mm) and the Thai strain (952.4 ± 12.31 g and 427.4 ± 4.66 mm) after 161 days of culture (P > 0.05). The survival rate of the G4 strain was the highest (93.28 ± 2.102%), comparable to that of the Thai strain (P > 0.05), but significantly higher than that of the Chinese strain (P < 0.05). The coefficient of variation in the G4 strain (13.66 ± 0.844%) was the lowest among the three strains, with uniformity 27% higher than the other two strains (P < 0.05). The fillet yield of the G4 strain was also significantly higher than that of both Chinese and Thai strains (P < 0.05).