Evaluation of growth, nutrient retention, health, and resistance to bacterial challenge in sunshine bass fed diets with new varieties of non-genetically modified soybeans

Authors: RAMENA, YATHISH - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff; Rawles, Steven - Steve; LOCHMANN, REBECCA - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff; CHEN, PENGYIN - University Of Arkansas; GAYLORD, T. GIVSON - Us Fish And Wildlife Service; McEntire, Matthew - Matt; Beck, Benjamin; Farmer, Bradley; Lange, Miles; Barrows, Frederic

Submitted to: Aquaculture America Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/2/2015
Publication Date: 2/22/2016
Citation: Ramena, Y., Rawles, S.D., Lochmann, R., Chen, P., Gaylord, T., Mcentire, M.E., Beck, B.H., Farmer, B.D., Lange, M.D., Barrows, F. 2016. Evaluation of growth, nutrient retention, health, and resistance to bacterial challenge in sunshine bass fed diets with new varieties of non-genetically modified soybeans. [abstract]. Aquaculture America Conference. P. 653.

Interpretive Summary: Traditional soybean meal contains modest levels of protein and high levels of anti-nutritional factors that reduce their digestion and utilization by fish. New non-genetically modified (non-GM) soybeans developed by the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville with fewer anti-nutritional factors and higher protein levels resulted in improved hybrid striped bass fish performance compared to standard soybean meals when used to replace all the fish meal in a typical commercial diet. These new varieties should permit higher inclusion rates of soybean meals in commercial hybrid striped bass diets.

Technical Abstract: We evaluated the effects of meals made from new strains of soybeans with high protein and reduced anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) on hybrid striped bass ("Sunshine bass", Morone chrysops x M. saxatilis) nutrient availability, growth rates, nutrient retention, gut histology, non-specific immune responses and resistance to Columnaris bacterial challenge. The hypothesis is that new non-genetically modified (non-GM) soybeans developed by the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville with fewer ANFs and higher protein will result in improved fish performance compared to standard soybean meals, which should permit higher inclusion rates of soybean meals in hybrid striped bass diets. The primary protein in the positive control diet was fish meal (FM) included at 25.5 percent of diet. Positive and negative soy control diets were formulated by substituting soy protein concentrate (positive soy control), or traditional soybean meals (ADM & Ozark parent varieties; negative soy controls) for FM and supplementing the first three limiting amino acids (Lys, Met, Thr). Three additional test diets were formulated by replacing FM with one of three non-GM soybean meals (R05-1415, R05- 1772, or R07-2001). All diets were formulated on an ideal protein basis to contain 40 percent digestible protein, 16 percent lipid, and 0.6 percent available phosphorus. The contribution from menhaden, poultry, and soy lipid sources in the diets was also held constant. Diets were manufactured with commercial methods and extruded using a twin-screw cooking extruder at the Bozeman Fish Technology Center, Bozeman, Montana. Four hundred fifty sunshine bass (3.76 g, initial weight) were stocked in 400-L flow-through tanks (N=25 fish per tank) at the H.K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center. Three tanks of fish were randomly assigned to each diet. Fish were fed twice daily to apparent satiation for ten weeks. Results of growth, body composition, gastrointestinal histology, and non-specific immune system responses to the various test diets will be presented along with resistance to a Columnaris bacterial disease challenge.