Sensory and Nutritional Quality of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Brazilian Strain, Fed Industrial and Locally Formulated Diets in Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Background: An improved Brazilian strain of tilapia was introduced in Côte d’Ivoire to enhance aquaculture production, but its nutritional and sensory quality has been studied much less than its growth performance and productivity. Aim: The study aims to assess the sensory and nutritional quality of the flesh of the Brazilian strain of Oreochromis niloticus reared with industrial and locally formulated feeds in Côte d’Ivoire. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Research Station on Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture, in Bouaké and Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire, during 2024. Methodology: Fish were assigned to three dietary treatments (industrial pellets, local block feed, and local powdered feed), with three replicates over a 5-month period. Sensory evaluation involved 60 adult consumers and used a 9-point hedonic scale. Physicochemical and nutritional analyses included pH, ash, moisture, dry matter, lipid, protein, vitamin A, and β-carotene. Results: Flesh quality varied according to locality and feed type. Pellet-fed fish had higher moisture and lower dry matter. Protein content was highest in fish fed the local block diet (19.15 ± 0.78 g/100 g) and lowest in pellet-fed fish (17.89 ± 0.31 g/100 g). In Bouaké, vitamin A was highest in fish fed powdered feed (12.56 ± 0.10 µg/100 g). Fish fed the block diet had the highest ash content (6.30 ± 0.42%). Overall acceptability ranged from 6.36 to 6.77 in Bouaké and from 6.94 to 7.42 in Daloa. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the Brazilian strain of tilapia is well accepted by consumers and that locally formulated feeds can be used without adversely affecting the sensory and nutritional quality of this fish produced in Côte d’Ivoire.