Sorghum as a potential valuable aquafeed ingredient: Nutritional quality and digestibility

Authors: ZAREI, MOHAMMAD - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University; AMIRKOLAIE, ABDOLSAMAD - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University; TRUSHENSKI, JESSE - Riverence Holdings Llc; Sealey, Wendy; SCHWARZ, MICHAEL - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University; OVISSIPOUR, REZA - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University

Submitted to: Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/30/2022
Publication Date: 5/6/2022
Citation: Zarei, M., Amirkolaie, A.K., Trushenski, J.T., Sealey, W.M., Schwarz, M.H., Ovissipour, R. 2022. Sorghum as a potential valuable aquafeed ingredient: Nutritional quality and digestibility. Agriculture. 12(5). Article 669. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12050669.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12050669

Interpretive Summary: With such a huge demand for fish feed, agricultural ingredients such as cereal grains and oilseeds have been introduced in progressively increasing amounts, replacing fish meal and marine protein sources. Among these ingredients, sorghum grain has potential due to its extensive global production and suitability of nutritional properties; however, like any other ingredients, sorghum has its own challenges as an ingredient for aquafeed development. USDA ARS physiologist Wendy Sealey and colleagues at the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Tech University recently reviewed the existing literature regarding sorghum production, composition, sorghum as a protein source, and bioprocessing methods for enhancing the quality of sorghum in order to exam the potential application of these products for aquafeed development. Reviewing this information provides researchers and feed manufactures the information needed to make informed decisions regarding the value of including such products in their fish feeds.

Technical Abstract: The world population is increasing, and our current agricultural practices are not sustain- able enough to address the concerns. Alternative proteins including plant-based proteins would provide a more sustainable source of food and feed ingredients. Among food systems, the aquaculture industry is rapidly growing, while, still depending on marine sources as a main source of protein. Thus, using alternative plant-based proteins as a source for developing aquafeed would make this industry more viable. Sorghum is a valuable grain with high protein contents, proper mineral, and fatty acids balance, and is available all around the world. However, sorghum has not been used widely for aquafeed development. In this review article, we will cover sorghum production, composition, sorghum as a protein source for aquafeed development, and bioprocessing methods for enhancing the quality of sorghum.