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Abstract Juvenile barramundi (∼220–280 g start weight) were fed extruded dry-pelleted diets containing varying amounts of fish meal and meat meal in three experiments (E). E1 and E2 were each 66-day farm studies utilizing 16 floating cages (400 fish per cage) in an aerated freshwater pond. E3 examined the same diets as fed in E2 but under controlled water temperature (28 ± 0.7 °C) and photoperiod (12:12) laboratory conditions in a 42-day study involving 24 aquaria (eight fish per aquarium). In all studies, the same 430 g kg-1 crude protein (CP), 15 kJ g-1 digestible energy (DE) control (Ctl) diet (containing 35% Chilean anchovy fish meal) was compared with two high-inclusion meat meal diets and a proprietary diet. The meat meal diets evaluated in E1 were a high-ash (260 g kg-1 ) meat meal that contained 520 g kg-1 CP and a low-ash (140 g kg-1 ) meat meal that contained 600 g kg-1 CP when included at either 450 or 400 g kg-1 , respectively, in combination with 100 g kg-1 Chilean fish meal in diets that were isonitrogenous and isoenergetic with the Ctl diet. Growth rates and feed conversions were similar (P > 0.05) for all diets. In E2 and E3, the 520 g kg-1 CP meat meal was included at 500 g kg-1 without any marine protein source in diets formulated to provide either 15 or 16.2 kJ g-1 DE and the same CP/DE ratio (29 mg kJ-1 ) as the Ctl diet. Fish performance ranking of diets was similar in both experiments, with the 16.2 kJ g-1 DE diet supporting better (P < 0.05) growth rates than the Ctl diet and feed conversion ratios equivalent to the Ctl diet but better (P < 0.05) than all other diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The organoleptic quality of barramundi fed for 66 days on pelleted diets containing varying amounts of fish meal and meat meal was determined in two experiments (E1 and E2). Each compared four diets: a 430 g kg-1 crude protein (CP) control diet (containing 35% Chilean anchovy fish meal); two diets containing high inclusions (40% or more) of meat meal; and a proprietary barramundi diet. In E1, the two meat meal diets contained 10% Chilean fish meal whereas the two meat meal diets in E2 had no marine protein ingredients. Panellists identified and rated the colour of flesh, and scored odour, flavour and texture characteristics and overall liking on structured graphic line scales (0–100). Fish fed the high-meat meal diets were sweeter and firmer than those fed the high-fish meal control diet in E1 (P < 0.05). Scores for fishy flavour were also highest for the meat meal diets and lowest for the proprietary diet. In both E1 and E2, scores were high (> 60) for overall liking and low (< 10) for undesirable odours and tastes. Exclusion of all sources of marine protein from the diet in E2 did not detract from the sensory value of the fish. The influence of diet on the fatty acid profile of the fish was examined in E2. Compared with fish fed the control diet, the neutral lipid fraction of those fed the meat meal diets had higher proportions of saturated and short-chain monounsaturated fatty acids at the expense of longer chain fatty acids, especially 22:6n-3. Polar lipids showed only subtle dietary effects, which were confined to the long-chain unsaturated fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]