Efecto de la harina de chachafruto (Erythrina edulis Triana ex Micheli) como suplemento en la alimentación de truchas arco iris (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Growth, survival and feed conversion of 600 rainbow-trout alevins were analyzed (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the Truchicola Experimental Field “La Mucuy” at the Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) in Merida, Venezuela. The study aimed at comparing different proportions of chachafruto (Erythrina edulis) flour to replace commercial concentrate feed. The average initial length of alevins was 2.7 ± 0.36 cm and their average weight was 19.2 ± 2.4 g, they were arranged in 4 tanks, each followed a different treatment according to the percentage of chachafruto flour used: T1 (40%), T2 (30%), T3 (20%) and T4 (0%) respectively. For statistical analysis, “R” program was used with a hierarchical nested model for weight and survival variables and dual hierarchy for the length variable. The analysis of variance determined that there were highly significant differences between the mean length, weight and survival between treatments, as well as those observed during such periods. Growth and weight were inversely proportional to chachafruto content in the diet; alevins with a lower weight and length were fed with 40% chachafrutos flour (T1). T4 obtained the highest survival rate of 96%. The most efficient feed conversion was observed in T4 with 4.22, followed by T3 with 5.20.