Effects of Feeding Broad Beans on the Growth and Meat Quality of NEW GIFT Oreochromis mossambicus

The NEW GIFT Oreochromis mossambicus was respectively fed with broad beans and the special compound feed for Oreochromis mossambicus, in the recirculating aquaculture system for 108 days, with an average body weight of 1 050 to 1 200 g per tail. Group A and B were experimental groups. The Groups of A and B were taken as the experimental groups, which were fed with broad beans, and the control group C was fed with the compound feed, in order to observe its effects on the growth performance and muscle quality of NEW GIFT Oreochromis mossambicus. The results showed that: the weight gain rate of Group A and Group B were 58.30% and 59.52%, respectively, and the feed conversion ratio were 4.35 and 4.26, respectively; while the weight gain rate and feed conversion ratio of Group C were 69.05% and 1.78, respectively. Compared with the control group fed with the special compound feed, the growth rate of Oreochromis mossambicus was slowed down to some extent by feeding broad beans. There were no significant differences in the muscle moisture, crude protein and ash contents among the groups of A, B and C. The fat content of Group A and Group B was significantly lower than that of Group C. There were significant differences in the drip loss, hydroxyproline content and collagen content among the groups of A, B and C (P<0.05). Although feeding broad beans affected the growth of NEW GIFT Oreochromis mossambicus, it could improve the quality of its muscle.