International Journal of Aquaculture, 2025, Vol.15, No.3, 155-164 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ija 156 become one of the top ten aquaculture producers in Africa and the leading producer of farmed fish within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) (DoF, 2019) (MFL, 2023). These achievements reflect the nation’s commitment to advancing its aquaculture sector, with significant investments in infrastructure, hatcheries, and feed production systems. As global fish production continues to rise, the demand for more affordable and sustainable feed options becomes increasingly important (Geremia et al., 2024). For instance, Oreochromis andersonii, a key species in Zambian aquaculture, has shown great potential for marketability, particularly in both commercial and local fisheries (Kefi and Mwango, 2018). However, despite its high market demand, growth performance of this species remains suboptimal due to challenges in feed availability and formulation, particularly among small-scale farmers (Basiita et al., 2022). Many of these farmers, especially in rural areas, struggle to access affordable and quality feed, which severely impacts fish growth and overall farm productivity (Godfrey Musuka et al., 2023). The availability of quality feed remains one of the most significant barriers to aquaculture expansion, especially in rural communities (Hasimuna et al., 2023). In addressing these challenges, studies have investigated the use of locally available ingredients in formulating fish feeds. A study by Musiba et al. (2014) evaluated the performance of two locally formulated feeds, TAF 1 and TAF 2, as replacements for commercial feeds in rearing African catfish in Tanzania. The results indicated that the locally formulated feed, TAF 1, outperformed the commercial feed in terms of weight gain, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, and specific growth rate. This suggests that locally available ingredients can be effective alternatives to commercial feeds for African catfish farming. Another study by Opiyo et al. (2014) compared the growth performance, carcass composition, and profitability of Nile tilapia fed commercial and on-farm made fish feeds in earthen ponds. The study found significant differences in mean weights, specific growth rates, and feed conversion ratios between the different diets. Additionally, the carcass composition analysis revealed variations in moisture, crude protein, crude fat, fiber, and total ash content among the different diets. These findings highlight the impact of feed type on the growth and nutritional composition of Nile tilapia. Building on these findings, the present study aims to compare the growth performance and carcass composition of Oreochromis andersonii raised on both commercial and farm-made feed in controlled plastic tank environments. By exploring the effectiveness of locally produced feeds against commercially available options, this study seeks to provide valuable insights into optimizing feed strategies for enhanced aquaculture productivity. 2Methods 2.1 Description of study site The experiment was carried out at Kapasa Makasa University in Muchinga province, Chinsali district (Figure 1). Chinsali lies approximately 15 kilometers west of the Great North Road and about 180 kilometers northeast of Mpika. Geographically, the area is situated between two major watersheds-the Chambeshi River of the Congo Basin and the Luangwa River of the Zambezi Basin. Positioned at an altitude of 1 600 meters above sea level, Chinsaliexperiencesameanannualtemperatureof20.7 °Candreceivesapproximately1,114mmofrainfallper year. The region falls within Zambia’s Agro-Ecological Region III, which is characterized by a relatively cool climate and high rainfall, making it suitable for diverse agricultural and aquaculture activities. 2.2 Sampling procedure A total of sixty Oreochromis andersonii fingerlings, of both sexes and of similar size and age, were sourced from the Kapasa Makasa University Campus in Chinsali, Zambia. The fingerlings were randomly distributed and stocked at a density of 10 fish per tank in six rectangular plastic tanks, ensuring uniform stocking conditions across all experimental units. 2.3 Experimental setup and design A completely randomised design (CRD) was employed, incorporating two dietary treatments commercial feed and farm-made feed each with three replicates. The study was carried out over a period of nine weeks to evaluate the
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