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The expansion in date processing has produced a large quantity of date pits Phoenix dactylifera L.: var. ruzeiz that could be used in animal feeds. To evaluate the nutritional value of date pits and their sprouts, two growth trials were conducted using semi-purified diets and fingerling tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.). In the first trial, four isocaloric-isonitrogenous diets containing different levels (0, 15, 30, and 45%) of date pits as a replacement for corn starch were fed to three replicate groups of fingerlings with a mean initial weight of 3.09 ± 0.10 g/fish. At the conclusion of the 9-wk growth trial, final weight gain, feed conversion, specific growth rate and PER were significantly reduced in fish fed diets with all levels of date pits as compared to those fed the control diet (without date pits). However, there were no significant differences in these parameters for fish fed diets contained 15%, 30%, or 45% date pits. Body crude fat was gradually reduced as the level of date pits in the test diets was increased. Consequently, body moisture, crude protein and total ash were proportionally increased. In second trial, three isocaloric-isonitrogenous diets containing 0% date pits (control diet), 15% date pits sprouted for 15 d, and 15% date pits sprouted for 30 d were fed to triplicate groups of tilapia with mean initial weight 2.60 t 0.09 g/ fish) for 9 wk. Growth rates and body composition of fish fed diets containing date pits that were sprouted for 15 or 30 d were similar to that of those fed the control diet. Under the reported conditions the inclusion of sprouted date pits did not affect growth and body composition, whereas nonsprouted date pits negatively influenced fish performance.

— We investigated the use of the halophyte salicornia Sulicornia bigelovii as a replacement for fish meal in feeds containing 35% crude protein for Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Five isocaloric, isonitrogenous diets were formulated with salicornia meal to replace 0%. 20%. 40%. 60%. and 80% of the fish meal in the feed. Another diet was formulated entirely from salicornia meal. Diets were fed to three replicate groups of tilapia fingerlings (mean initial weight = 0.5 g/fish) for 6 wk in 40-L aquaria supplied with 22 C well water. Tilapia growth did not differ (P < 0.05) for fish fed diets in which 0%. 20%. or 40% of the fish meal in the diet was replaced with salicornia meal. Weight gain was reduced when fish were fed diets with higher levels of salicornia meal, and growth was slowest for fish fed diets formulated entirely from salicornia meal. Body fat was reduced and body moisture content was increased (P < 0.05) for fish fed diets in which more than 80% of the fish meal was replaced with salicornia meal. We conclude that salicornia meal can replace up to 40% of the fish meal in O. niloticus feeds without affecting growth or body composition.