Date: 11/07/2025

In aquaculture, maximizing zootechnical performance requires attention to the mechanisms that determine the nutritional utilization of the diet. Among these processes, nutrient absorption is fundamental to fish performance and crop profitability.

In the case of Nile tilapia, one of the most farmed species in the world, understanding the factors related to nutrition allows for significant advances in feed formulation, feed management, and zootechnical results.

In this blog, we address the main aspects that affect nutritional utilization in tilapia and its relationship with feed conversion, nutritional efficiency, and large-scale aquaculture production.

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The importance of nutrient absorption for fish nutrition

Productive efficiency in fish farming is directly related to the animal's ability to assimilate the nutrients provided by its diet.

In the case of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), a species that stands out in aquaculture worldwide for its resistance, yield, and good acceptance in the consumer market, understanding the mechanisms involved in nutrient utilization is essential to improve feeding at each stage of cultivation.

Proteins and lipids are the two main macronutrients in the context of fish nutrition, since proteins function as the primary source of amino acids, which are essential for the growth and maintenance of structural tissues, while lipids act as the main source of energy.

For tilapia weighing more than 100 grams, for example, the digestible protein requirement is estimated at 24.3% of the total diet (FURUYA, 2010), and it is also necessary to ensure an adequate supply of limiting amino acids such as lysine, methionine, threonine, and tryptophan (FURUYA et al., 2012a).

Therefore, the formulation of feed considered efficient depends on the quality, chemical composition of the ingredients, digestibility, and the animal's ability to utilize them. Tilapia demonstrate good efficiency in the use of animal and plant inputs, which offers greater flexibility in the development of nutritional strategies (HANLEY, 1987; DEGANI & REVACH, 1991; FURUYA et al., 2001; GONÇALVES et al., 2005).

Key factors influencing nutrient absorption in tilapia

The digestion and assimilation of nutrients in tilapia involves multiple interdependent factors that directly impact the utilization of the diet and the productive performance of the fish.

Among the intrinsic factors, the feeding habits and characteristics of the digestive tract of Nile tilapia stand out, favoring the efficient use of animal and plant ingredients.

This adaptability allows for greater flexibility in diet composition, provided that their specific nutritional requirements are met, especially in relation to the supply of essential amino acids.

On the other hand, extrinsic factors, such as feed particle size, ingredient type, feeding consistency, and environmental conditions (such as stocking density and water quality), are conditions that require attention when related to nutrients.

Adequate feeding frequencies, for example, contribute to greater uniformity in batch growth, reducing aggressive behavior and favoring feed conversion (FERDOUS et al., 2014; ZHOU et al., 2003).

In addition, the chemical composition and digestibility of ingredients are also decisive factors, because diets formulated based on highly digestible ingredients and with an adequate energy-protein balance favor more efficient absorption, resulting in better growth rates and less nutrient waste.

How feed absorption impacts aquaculture production

Nutritional efficiency is associated with the zootechnical performance of fish and the profitability of aquaculture.

When nutrients in the diet are properly digested and absorbed, tilapia convert a greater proportion of feed into body growth, reducing losses and improving feed conversion ratios.

The feed conversion ratio, which indicates the amount of feed required to gain one kilogram of live weight, is one of the main indicators for positive results within a production system. It is considered that good nutrient utilization reduces the cost per kilogram produced and decreases the release of nitrogen compounds into the environment, favoring the balance of farming systems.

Adjustments in feed supply, such as meal frequency and particle size, also influence intestinal transit time and nutrient absorption, directly impacting production results. Higher feeding frequencies, for example, promote better growth and less size variability among animals in the batch (ZHOU et al., 2003).

In addition, by promoting optimal digestibility, the underutilization of high-cost ingredients, such as protein sources, is avoided, ensuring that essential amino acids are available at the right time for processes such as growth, maintenance, and immune responses.

BioActio Health & Performance as an allies in tilapia production performance

The search for greater production efficiency in fish farming has encouraged the adoption of ingredients that optimize the use of nutrients provided in the diet.

Among the available alternatives, highly digestible hydrolyzed proteins have gained prominence for their potential to improve absorption and promote positive metabolic responses in fish.

BioActio Health & Performance, Chicken Protein Hydrolyzed from BRF Ingredients, is one such solution. Obtained through the enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins from chicken viscera, offal, and meat, the ingredient concentrates bioactive peptides with low molecular mass, which favors their direct absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, without the need for additional degradation.

These peptides are absorbed in the form of di- and tripeptides, oligopeptides, and free amino acids, and can be used efficiently by the body, including for immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial action.

This characteristic explains the high apparent digestibility coefficients recorded in tests with tilapia. When digestibility is improved, the production system operates more efficiently, resulting in better feed conversion, higher growth rates, and less nutrient waste.

In an in vivo study conducted by the Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná (UNIOESTE), the inclusion of 5% BioActio Health & Performance in isoenergetic diets resulted in a 10.82% improvement in palatability compared to the control group. Among the parameters evaluated were pellet consumption, rejection, capture time, and approach.

Final considerations

Within a production process that seeks to combine zootechnical performance, sustainability, and nutritional efficiency, understanding the mechanisms of nutrient absorption in tilapia is essential. The way these fish utilize the compounds present in their diet directly affects feed conversion, growth, and the final quality of the crop.

The adoption of highly digestible ingredients, an adequate balance between protein and energy, and good feed management practices contribute to more predictable, safe, and technically sustainable production.

With its Animal Nutrition portfolio, BRF Ingredients offers solutions that combine innovation, technology, and added value, such as hydrolyzed proteins with bioactive peptides, developed to assist in formulations according to the needs of each species.

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