Utilization of the Tilapia Invasive Species as a Low-Cost Protein Feed to Improve Egg Production

View the project final report

• 2010 annual report

Commodities

• Animals: poultry

Practices

• Animal Production: feed/forage

In the Federated States of Micronesia, economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing. Back yard or free-range poultry and swine remain the dominant production practice. However, the high cost of imported feed keeps this practice from becoming economically sustainable or productive on a mass scale. This project proposes to use two abundant sources of protein on the Yap Islands that could provide excellent feed for poultry: the Mozambique tilapia (an invasive species) and land crabs (considered a pest for devouring vegetation on plantations). These species, which have no apparent use on the islands, could provide an excellent and stable source of protein for farmers to improve the output and quality of their livestock production.

1.Conduct feeding trials on laying chickens by using a local feed mixture consisting of tilapia, land crab and copra. This is a comparative study of the local feed mixture against commercial layer feed and a combination of both commercial feed and the local feed mixture.
2.Identify sources and fishing methods for capturing tilapia in mangroves.
3.Develop educational materials and train farmers in simple feed production and processing using locally available materials.