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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Aberdeen, Idaho » Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #206363
Title: SUPPLEMENTATION OF TAURINE AND METHIONINE TO ALL-PLANT PROTEIN DIETS FOR RAINBOW TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS).

Author
item Gaylord, Thomas
item Barrows, Frederic
item Teague, April
item JOHANSEN, K - FORMER USDA ARS EMPLOYEE
item Overturf, Kenneth - Ken
item Shepherd, Brian

Submitted to: Book of Abstracts Aquaculture America
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/6/2006
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Current trends in trout production include decreasing levels of fishmeal content in feeds for faster growing strains of fish; therefore, taurine may be a limiting nutrient in support of elevated growth for strains of genetically-improved rainbow trout. A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to address the ability of trout to endogenously synthesize taurine from supplemental dietary methionine. The diets were formulated to contain only plant proteins. Taurine supplementation improved growth (p=0.096, g gain per fish) and taurine supplementation at a level of 5 g/kg diet increased feed consumption (p=0.095), but did not alter protein retention efficiency, energy retention efficiency or feed conversion ratios. Methionine supplementation reduced growth (p=0.010, g gain per fish) and feed consumption (p=0.055) but did not alter protein retention efficiency, energy retention efficiency or feed conversion ratio. Therefore, methionine supplementation to plant based diets will not completely spare the need for dietary taurine.

Technical Abstract: Current trends in trout production include decreasing levels of fishmeal content in feeds for faster growing strains of fish; therefore, taurine may be a limiting nutrient in support of elevated growth for strains of genetically-improved rainbow trout. A 12-week feeding trial was conducted using a factorial treatment design with taurine supplementation (3 levels) and methionine supplementation (3 levels) as the main effects. The diets were formulated to contain only plant proteins. All diets were formulated to contain 43.8% crude protein from intact protein and 20% lipid. The unsupplemented plant diet had taurine levels below the detection limit of 0.1g/kg diet and 14.9g/kg total sulfur amino acids (met+cys). Taurine supplementation improved growth (p=0.096, g gain per fish) and taurine supplementation at a level of 5 g/kg diet increased feed consumption (p=0.095), but did not alter protein retention efficiency, energy retention efficiency or feed conversion ratios. Methionine supplementation reduced growth (p=0.010, g gain per fish) and feed consumption (p=0.055) but did not alter protein retention efficiency, energy retention efficiency or feed conversion ratio. Reduced intraperitoneal fat deposition was seen with dietary methionine supplementation, whereas taurine supplementation had no such effect. Dietary supplementation with methionine or taurine had no effect on plasma GH levels, whereas methionine supplementation (5g/kg diet) was associated with decreased plasma IGF-I concentrations