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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #257435
Title: Replacement of fish meal in juvenile channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, diets using a yeast-derived protein source: the effects on weight gain, food conversion ratio, body composition, and survival of catfish challenged..

Author
item Peterson, Brian
item Booth, Natha
item MANNING, B - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Aquaculture Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2011
Publication Date: 3/1/2012
Citation: Peterson, B.C., Booth, N.J., Manning, B.B. 2012. Replacement of fish meal in juvenile channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, diets using a yeast-derived protein source: the effects on weight gain, food conversion ratio, body composition, and survival of catfish challenged... Aquaculture Nutrition. 18(2):132-137.

Interpretive Summary: We examined the effects of a yeast-derived protein source (NuPro) as a replacement for menhaden fish meal on weight gain, food conversion ratio (FCR), whole-body composition, and disease resistance in juvenile channel catfish. Diets were fed to catfish (9.9 ' 0.2 g/fish) for nine weeks; fish were sampled for whole-body composition and then challenged with disease for three weeks. Weight gain and FCR were negatively affected (P < 0.01) when NuPro replaced 100% of the fish meal in the diet. The amount of whole-body fat decreased (P < 0.05) when NuPro replaced 60% or more of the fish meal in the diet. Regardless of the amount of NuPro added, survival after challenge was similar among treatments. Results indicate that up to 80% of the fish meal protein can be replaced by NuPro without negatively affecting weight gain or FCR. The results also show that NuPro does not appear to negatively affect disease susceptibility of catfish. The yeast-derived protein source used in this study is a sustainable protein alternative that could be used as a partial replacement for fish meal in juvenile channel catfish diets.

Technical Abstract: We examined the effects of a yeast-derived protein source (NuPro) as a replacement for menhaden fish meal on weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR), whole-body composition, and disease resistance in juvenile channel catfish. NuPro replaced 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% of the fish meal provided in the control diet in five replicate tanks. Diets were fed to channel catfish (initial weight 9.9 ' 0.2 g/fish) for nine weeks; fish were sampled for whole-body composition and then challenged with the bacterium Edwardsiella ictaluri for three weeks. Weight gain, specific growth rate, and FCR were negatively affected (P < 0.01) when NuPro replaced 100% of the fish meal in the diet. The amount of whole-body fat decreased (P < 0.05) when NuPro replaced 60% or more of the fish meal in the diet. Regardless of the amount of NuPro added, survival after challenge with E. ictaluri was similar among treatments. Results indicate that up to 80% of the fish meal protein can be replaced by NuPro without negatively affecting weight gain or FCR in tank raised juvenile channel catfish. The results also show that NuPro does not appear to negatively affect disease susceptibility of catfish challenged with E. ictaluri. The yeast-derived protein source used in this study is a sustainable protein alternative that could be used as a partial replacement for fish meal in juvenile channel catfish diets.