Date palm seeds as food for carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Abstract

Date palm seeds (DPS) were investigated as a possible replacement for a wheat bran-barley mixture in carp feed. Total replacement of the bran-barly mixture for young carp by date seed meal significantly reduced (p<0.05) both growth (0.06 g day-1) and daily food consumption. Partial replacement at the rates of 25, 50, and 75 %, however, equally improved carp growth and total replacement raised the fat content in carp flesh. Being an inexpensive local ingredient, date palm seeds could therefore replace the commonly used wheat bran and barly mixture in carp diet up to 75 %.